Heinz Strunk's 'Zauberberg 2' Offers a Darkly Comedic Take on Modern Alienation

The novel reimagines Thomas Mann’s classic in a contemporary setting, blending biting humor with existential despair.

Heinz Strunk’s 'Zauberberg 2' is a modern adaptation of Thomas Mann’s 'The Magic Mountain,' set in a Polish borderland psychosomatic clinic rather than the Swiss Alps.
The protagonist, Jonas Heidbrink, is a depressed and disillusioned 36-year-old former tech entrepreneur seeking recovery through unconventional therapies.
Strunk employs a sardonic narrative tone to critique modern wellness culture while exploring themes of isolation, nihilism, and the search for meaning.
While the novel draws heavily on its literary predecessor, it diverges with a sharper focus on internal psychological struggles and a condensed narrative style.
Critical reception highlights the novel’s dark humor and originality, though some reviewers view it as overreaching when compared to Mann’s monumental work.