Thomas Mann was one of those rare writers who were equally successful in works of both “large” and “small” forms. Moreover, if in his novels the content weighed heavily over the form, then in the stories the form and content were in perfect harmony. The “small” works included in this collection belong to different periods of Mann’s work. Most often, their plots are simple - love and disappointment, the expectation of a miracle and the boredom of everyday life, the thirst for life and the loss of illusions, which brings with it the pain and wisdom of life experience. However, it is the simplicity of the plot that emphasizes the splendor of the author’s language, the subtlety of the style, and the psychological depth.