Erich Kastner

About

German poet, satirist, screenwriter, and children's author who received the Hans Christian Andersen Award. His best-known literary works include Emil and the Detectives, The Flying Classroom, and Lottie and Lisa.

Before Fame

He was the son of a maid and a saddlemaker and paid his way through the University of Leipzig with his work as a drama critic and journalist.

Trivia

He wrote a series of "Emil" books that popularized the literary genre of children's detective stories.

Family Life

He never married, but he had a son, Thomas, to whom he dedicated his final children's books.

Associated With

He, like Alfred Andersch, was a German author.