Summary

In Chapter 11, Thomas stays at a luxury hotel in Saltsjöbaden with Katia and Erika. He is giving an interview there. Katia comes to his room one evening to tell him that war has broken out. He quickly sends a telegram to Agnes Meyer. Agnes eventually calls and tells Thomas she booked his family flights to London and then berths on a boat to Washington. He thanks her. They leave the very next morning, without their luggage.

Thomas is nervous while on the plane. He keeps his head down and reads his book. When they land in England, he is questioned about his notebook, which contains German writing. He explains that it is the novel he is writing about Goethe. They let him pass.

The boat to Washington is days late. The Manns go shopping in the meantime. When the boat finally comes...