The Magician (2021) by Irish writer Colm Toibin is the fictionalised biography of German great Thomas Mann (1875-1955).

Early in the novel we learn that Thomas Mann’s mother moved from Brazil to Lubeck, Germany as a small child and was in kinship care.

“In Lubeck, Julia was remembered as a small girl arriving with her sister and her three brothers after their mother had died. They were taken care of by an uncle…” (3).

Later, we find out that after Thomas Mann’s father died when the boy was about 15, Thomas went into an informal foster care arrangement while his mother and 3 youngest children moved to Munich.

“…leaving Thomas behind to complete his final year at school while boarding in the house of Doctor Timpe…” (19).

Doctor Timpe was one of Thomas’ school teachers. The boy had “a small bedroom at the back of the top floor Doctor Timpe’s house” (23).