Part I Summary

Part one begins in the Buddenbrook family home in 1835 inwhat is probably Luebeck, Germany, though the actual town is never named. Three generations of Buddenbrooks are gathered in the family sitting room. Eight-year old Antonie is sitting on her grandfather and master of the house Johann Buddenbrook's knee reciting the newly approved catechism. They are sitting in the Buddenbrook home on Meng Street. They have just recently moved into the house after Johann Buddenbrook's firm acquired it. It is Thursday, the day on which the family gathers at the home and this Thursday they have invited some friends over to dine with them as well and to have a kind of house-warming party.

Johann Buddenbrooks the younger, also known as the Consul, the son of the elder Johann, welcomes his two sons Tom and Christian home from school. The first dinner...