ERICH KASTNER
German author (1899-1974)
Biography:
Erich Kästner was born in Dresde in 1899. He is the author of many novelsn children's books, poems and essays. Together with other German writers, he tried to attack Hitler's totalitarism and lack of freedom with humour and pacifist ideals.
Kästner's children's books reflected his social optimism based on his belief in the renewing power of the each new generation of youth. He was awarded with the Hans Christian Andersen in 1960. Though he became popular through his children's books, he was also very successful among adults as a novelist and poet.
Many of his books have been translated into English, such as Emil and the Detectives (1929), Baron Munchhausen, his Wonderful Travels, Fabian, the story of a moralist (1931), The 35th of May, or Conrad's Ride to the South Seas (1931), Anna Luise and Anton (1932), The Flying Classroom (1933), Three Men in the Snow (1934) and Puss in Boots (1950), among many others.
Erich Kästner, author of illustrated works:
Emil and the Detectives, translated by May Massee, illustrated by Walter Trier, Doubleday & Co., 1930.
Little man and the Big Thief, illustrated by Mack Stantley, Knofp, 1969.
Les gens des Schilda, illustrated by Fernando Puig Rosado, Gallimard, 1977. In Schilda, a German village, people were well-advised and clever. They were good advisers and went on exile, yet at their return nothing worked properly in Schilda. So they pretend to be dull and nobody bothers them... But they have become dull indeed!
La conférence des animaux, illustrated by Walter Trier, Gallimard, 1980. Men and women cannot bring peace to our world so animals organize a conference in order to sabotage the meeting of all Heads of State.
Emile et les détectives, illustrated by Daniel Maja, Hachette, 1981.
Petit point et ses amis, illustrated by Lulu Larsen, Hachette jeunesse, 1996. A child is left in charge of a nanny and a governess. But one day, his parents see him begging in a corner and they realise that they should have taken care themselves of their son.
La Classe volante, illustrated by Mette Ivers, Hachette, 1999.
Critical analysis on Erich Kastner:
Literary magazine Eselsohr, 2, 1999.