The Holy Sinner Author:Thomas Mann First published in 1951, The Holy Sinner explores a subject that fascinated Thomas Mann to the end of his lifethe origins of evil and evil's connection with magic. Here Mann uses a medieval legend about 'the exceeding mercy of God and the birth of the blessed Pope Gregory' as he used the Biblical account of Joseph as the basis for Joseph... more » and His Brothersilluminating with his ironic sensibility the notion of original sin and transcendence of evil.« less