Erikh Kestner Famous German author, screenwriter, novelist and satirist of the 20th century. Date of Birth: 23.02.1899 Country: Germany

Biography of Erich Kästner

Erich Kästner was a prominent German author, screenwriter, writer, and satirist of the 20th century. He was born on the Königsbrücker Straße in Dresden, in the house that now houses a museum dedicated to his work. His father was a leather worker, and his mother, Ida, worked as a maid and housekeeper. She also had to learn the profession of a hairdresser to supplement the meager family budget. When Erich Kästner lived in Berlin and Leipzig, he wrote very touching letters to his mother and sent postcards almost daily. Perhaps that is why the image of a burdened mother often appears in Kästner's novels. There were rumors that Emil Kästner was not Erich's biological father, but rather a Jewish doctor named Emil Zimmermann (1864-1953). However, these rumors were never confirmed. In his autobiography, "When I Was a Little Boy" (1957), Kästner wrote that he never felt burdened by being the only child in the family because he always had many friends.

In 1913, Kästner entered a teacher training college, but in 1916, he was forced to leave his studies without becoming an elementary school teacher. Germany was in turmoil during the years of World War I, which became the "end of childhood" for Erich Kästner. In 1917, he was drafted into the army and assigned to artillery troops. The harsh experiences of a new recruit, unseen bloodshed battles, and the horrors of war greatly influenced Kästner's anti-militarist position. Moreover, the ruthless treatment by Sergeant Waurich during his training as a young soldier caused Erich Kästner to suffer from a heart condition.

After the war, Kästner returned to his studies and graduated with honors, receiving a scholarship from the municipality of Dresden. In the autumn of 1919, Kästner began studying at the University of Leipzig, majoring in history, philosophy, German language and literature, and theater. Kästner had to move from place to place while preparing his dissertation "Frederick the Great and German Literature," which he defended in 1925. To pay for his education, Erich Kästner worked as a journalist and theater critic for the prestigious newspaper Neue Leipziger Zeitung. However, his criticism and the publication of the erotic poem "Evening Song of a Chamber Virtuoso" led to his dismissal in 1927.

In the same year, Kästner moved to Berlin and continued writing for Leipzig newspapers under the pseudonym "Berthold Bürger." Later, Kästner would use other pseudonyms such as "Melchior Kurtz," "Peter Flint," and "Robert Neuner." The years before the Nazis came to power were the most productive in Kästner's career. Within a couple of years in Berlin, Erich Kästner became one of the most famous intellectuals in the capital. He published poems, newspaper columns, articles, and reviews in the most famous Berlin publications.

In 1928, Kästner published his first collection of poems, "Heart on the Waistcoat" ("Herz auf Taille"), and by 1933, three more collections were released. Thanks to the collection "Lyrics for Every Day," Kästner became one of the leading figures of the German New Objectivity (Neue Sachlichkeit) movement. In the autumn of 1928, Kästner released the children's book "Emil and the Detectives," which sold millions of copies and was translated into 59 languages. The book stood out for its realism, and in 1933, Kästner published the sequel "Emil and the Three Twins." This series marked the beginning of a new genre - children's detective stories.

Kästner continued to write and publish children's stories, such as "The Flying Classroom" (1933) and "Pünktchen and Anton" (1931), illustrated by Walter Trier. In 1931, the book "Emil and the Detectives" was adapted into a film by Gerhard Lamprecht. The film was a great success, although Kästner was dissatisfied with the screenplay.

Kästner wrote only one novel, "Fabian" (1931), which resembled a film screenplay. He was a pacifist and wrote for children because he believed in their creative power. Although Kästner was an opponent of the Nazi regime, unlike his colleagues, he did not emigrate from Germany to witness the events from within.

Kästner was interrogated several times by the Gestapo, and he was expelled from the Writers' Guild. The Nazis burned Kästner's books as "contrary to the spirit of Germany." Only in 1942 was Kästner allowed to write the screenplay for the film "Münchhausen." In 1944, his house in Berlin was destroyed in a bombing raid. In early 1945, he moved to Tyrol. Kästner published his diary "Notabene 45" (1961) about his experiences during Nazism.

After the war, Kästner moved to Munich, where he edited the local newspaper Neue Zeitung and published the youth magazine "Pinguin." Additionally, Kästner worked for various radio stations, writing songs, sketches, radio plays, speeches, and essays on topics such as Nazism, World War II, and the hardships of post-war Germany.

Kästner's optimism gave hope to the exhausted people of West Germany in rebuilding their homeland. After the "economic miracle" in West Germany, the country joined NATO, which did not please the pacifist Kästner. He was also against the Vietnam War. Kästner did not join any literary societies, remaining a children's writer. The rediscovery of Kästner's work occurred in the 1970s when all his books were adapted into films. Kästner was the recipient of numerous literary awards and served as the president of various societies.

Kästner never married, although he wrote his last children's books for his son, Thomas Kästner, who was born in 1957. Kästner also recorded and read his works on the radio. In films, he willingly took on the roles of storytellers.

Erich Kästner passed away at Neuperlacher Krankenhaus on July 29, 1974, and was buried at the St. George's Cemetery in Munich.