Joseph and His Brothers by Thomas Mann. Short summary

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A novel consisting of four parts. It retells the biblical Old Testament story of Joseph the Beautiful. Events take place during the reign of Amenhotep III and his son Amenhotep IV.

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In the first part, Jacob talks to his beloved son Joseph. He tells his offspring the story of his life and also touches on events from the lives of his ancestors.

Jacob fell in love with his uncle’s youngest daughter, Rachel, with whom he had two children, one of whom was Joseph. He agreed to the terms of his relative, but the latter deceived him and gave him the older daughter instead of the younger one.

After a time Rachel did become his wife, but the hero had to serve with his uncle for seven more years. During that time he became the father of 12 sons. Jacob flees to his homeland with his family, but Rachel dies on the way.

The second part is about Joseph. The older brothers hate their father’s favorite, unlike the younger brothers with whom he befriended. Joseph was beaten and imprisoned in the bottom of a parched well for three days. He was sold to wandering merchants who brought the young man to Egypt.

Part 3 recounts Joseph’s adventures in Egypt, where he becomes a slave, but gradually rises to be the chief ruler in his master’s house.