Thomas Mann's (1875-1955) engagement with contemporary Jews and his epic portrayals of them trace the ups and downs of history and reveal them as such. In his work, the Jews are given a key role in the debates of the 20th century. From Naphta and Krokowski in »The Magic Mountain« and Joseph and Moses there are connecting links and analogies between Germans and Jews, all the way up to Fitelberg and Breisacher in »Doctor Faustus«. The chronological treatment foregrounds both continuity and change in Mann's views, the mixture of fascination and prejudice they reveal, and their ongoing differentiation and refinement. The study (first published in French in 1995) deepens our awareness of the structural unity of Mann's oeuvre and makes a contribution to research on mentalities.