Correspondence of Hermann and Thomas

The Swiss literary critic Otto Basler (1902-1984) told us a rare anecdote. He had a close friendship with the poets Thomas Mann and Hermann Hesse. They even visited him at his home in Aargauer. When Thomas Mann stood on his doorstep on 6 July 1950, Otto Basler welcomed him with Schiller's words: "What a dear and loyal guest! No better man has ever stepped on this doorstep!" At this, he paused, pulled his foot back from the threshold and replied slyly: "But tell me, my dear friend, didn't Hermann Hesse visit you not long ago?" "Yes," replied Otto Basler, "but he entered the house from the other side." "So that's it!" replied Thomas Mann immediately after he had entered.