"A Death in Venice" is a novella by Thomas Mann, published in 1912. It tells the story of Gustav von Aschenbach, a successful but aging writer who travels to Venice seeking inspiration and escape from his mundane life. There, he becomes infatuated with a beautiful young boy named Tadzio, which leads him to confront his own desires and mortality. Aschenbach's obsession with Tadzio deepens as he becomes increasingly isolated in the city. Meanwhile, a cholera outbreak threatens Venice, symbolizing the decay of both the city and Aschenbach's own life. The novella explores themes of beauty, obsession, and the struggle between art and life.