Thomas Mann's early masterpiece was published in 1901 by S. Fischer Verlag and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1929. This volume of the 'Great Commented Frankfurt Edition' is based on the first print from 1901. Only this earliest print is based on the manuscript that was lost during World War II, and it is the only edition for which the author is known to have made corrections. Text changes in later prints were at most tacitly tolerated by Thomas Mann. For this new edition, numerous typographical errors and modernizations have been reversed. For the first time, the novel appears again in its original form and original spelling. The commentary volume for 'Buddenbrooks' contains detailed essays on the history of its creation and reception, as well as on the text and source situation. The commentary provides explanations of literary and historical backgrounds.