Royal Highness (1909)

Royal Highness is a novel written by the German author Thomas Mann and first published in 1909. The story follows the life of a young German prince named Klaus Heinrich, who is groomed to become the ruler of a small European principality. Klaus is raised in a strict, aristocratic environment and is expected to conform to the expectations of his position. However, he finds himself struggling with the weight of his responsibilities and the constraints of his royal status.As Klaus grows older, he becomes increasingly disillusioned with the pomp and ceremony of his role. He longs for a more authentic and meaningful life, away from the trappings of his royal position. His journey towards self-discovery is complicated by his love for a commoner, a young actress named Flora. Their relationship is forbidden by the strict social codes of Klaus's world, and he must choose between his duty to his country and his love for Flora.Throughout the novel, Mann explores themes of duty, identity, and the tension between tradition and modernity. He also offers a critique of the rigid social structures of European aristocracy, suggesting that they stifle individuality and creativity. Royal Highness is a poignant and insightful portrait of a young man struggling to find his place in the world, and a powerful commentary on the nature of power and privilege.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.