Adorno’s attraction to exclusive coteries steered him toward Horkheimer’s circle.

Evidence

In another way as well, the Vienna years were significant in his development. Many years later Adorno would admit that one of the attractions of the Schonberg circle had been its exclusive, coterie-like quality, which reminded him of the circle around Stefan George in Germany. One of his disappointments during his three years in Austria was the dissolution of the circle’s unity, which followed after Schonberg’s new wife isolated him from his disciples. If this had not happened, it can at least be conjectured, Adorno might not have chosen to return to Frankfurt. Once there, of course, the same cliquish qualities drew him into the orbit of Horkheimer and the younger members of the Institut. — Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination, 144

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Adorno’s taste for exclusive coteries drew him to the Institut’s inner circle — Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination: A History…, 144; Adorno was emotionally fixated on Horkheimer and jealous of other circle members. — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 644

Broader Connections

• Adorno’s taste for exclusive coteries drew him to the Institut’s inner circle #corroborates (0.95) — Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination, 144
• Adorno was emotionally fixated on Horkheimer and jealous of other circle members. #expands (0.80) — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School, 644