In 2001, Gilbert Adair's study, Inspiration for "Death in Venice"—The Real Tadzio 1900-1962, was published. Adair examines the life of Wladyslaw Moes, the person on whom Mann based his character Tadzio.

German writer Herman Hesse was a good friend of Mann. His novel Siddhartha (1922), the story of the Buddha's quest for enlightenment, reflects Hesse's interest in Indian philosophy and culture.

In Buddenbrooks, a semi-autobiographical family saga published in 1901, Mann details the history of the Buddenbrook family and the town in which they lived.

Mann was deeply influenced by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who elaborates on his ideas about Apollonian and Dionysian principles in The Birth of Tragedy, published in 1871.

John Julius Norwich's 600-page-plus 1982 tome, A History of Venice, chronicles the history of Venice from the Middle Ages to its capture by Napoleon.