Erich Kästner

Films based on the timeless, wise and gently socially critical works of this significant writer

"Every smile you send out comes back to you twice." (Erich Kästner) Erich Kästner (born 23.2.1899 in Dresden) is one of the most important German writers of the 20th century. He became famous primarily for his children's books, but the author of "Emil and the Detectives", "Das doppelte Lottchen" and "Das fliegende Klassenzimmer" also wrote novels for adults ("Fabian"), poems critical of the times, stage plays and essays. In 1933, his writings ended up on the pyre of the National Socialists. In September 1927, Kästner came to Berlin, where he experienced an almost fairytale rise. His poems, essays and reviews were published in renowned newspapers such as "Weltbühne", the "Tagebuch", the "Vossische Zeitung", the "Berliner Tageblatt", the "Montag Morgen", the "Dresdner Neuesten Nachrichten" and others and allowed him to live a life as a freelance writer and publicist who could enjoy Berlin's café, pub and cabaret culture to the full. From 1928 onwards, the books that finally made Kästner's name a household word appeared in quick succession. But the most successful period in his life came to an abrupt end in 1933: with the words "Against decadence and moral decay! For discipline and morality in family and state! I consign to the flames the writings of Heinrich Mann, Ernst Glaeser and Erich Kästner!" Goebbels had also declared Kästner, a member of the Schutzverband Deutscher Schriftsteller and the PEN Club, a banned writer; in 1934 his account was blocked and he was arrested for a few days, interrogated but released. Since Kästner was in a way a representative of the "other" Germany - he had neither emigrated nor allowed himself to be compromised - he quickly gained a foothold in post-war Munich, the meeting place for artists and writers at the time. From autumn 1945 to spring 1947, he headed the arts section of the "Neue Zeitung", the newspaper with millions of copies for the western zones. Many of his novels were made into films and are still topical today. In 2021, the remake of "Fabian" ("Fabian oder Der Gang vor die Hunde" Director: Dominik Graf) was awarded the German Film Prize ("Silberne Lola"). Source: www.mdr.de/geschichte/erich-kaestner-und-sein-leben100.html) Photo source: Von Basch, [...] / Opdracht Anefo - [1] Dutch National Archives, The Hague, Fotocollectie Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (ANEFO), 1945-1989 bekijk toegang 2.24.01.09 Bestanddeelnummer 912-8730, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36966907

"Every smile you send out comes back to you twice." (Erich Kästner)

Erich Kästner (born 23.2.1899 in Dresden) is one of the most important German writers of the 20th century. He became famous primarily for his children's books, but the author of "Emil and the Detectives", "Das doppelte Lottchen" and "Das fliegende Klassenzimmer" also wrote novels for adults ("Fabian"), poems critical of the times, stage plays and essays. In 1933, his writings ended up on the pyre of the National Socialists.

In September 1927, Kästner came to Berlin, where he experienced an almost fairytale rise. His poems, essays and reviews were published in renowned newspapers such as "Weltbühne", the "Tagebuch", the "Vossische Zeitung", the "Berliner Tageblatt", the "Montag Morgen", the "Dresdner Neuesten Nachrichten" and others and allowed him to live a life as a freelance writer and publicist who could enjoy Berlin's café, pub and cabaret culture to the full. From 1928 onwards, the books that finally made Kästner's name a household word appeared in quick succession. But the most successful period in his life came to an abrupt end in 1933: with the words "Against decadence and moral decay! For discipline and morality in family and state! I consign to the flames the writings of Heinrich Mann, Ernst Glaeser and Erich Kästner!" Goebbels had also declared Kästner, a member of the Schutzverband Deutscher Schriftsteller and the PEN Club, a banned writer; in 1934 his account was blocked and he was arrested for a few days, interrogated but released.

Since Kästner was in a way a representative of the "other" Germany - he had neither emigrated nor allowed himself to be compromised - he quickly gained a foothold in post-war Munich, the meeting place for artists and writers at the time. From autumn 1945 to spring 1947, he headed the arts section of the "Neue Zeitung", the newspaper with millions of copies for the western zones. Many of his novels were made into films and are still topical today. In 2021, the remake of "Fabian" ("Fabian oder Der Gang vor die Hunde" Director: Dominik Graf) was awarded the German Film Prize ("Silberne Lola").

Source: www.mdr.de/geschichte/erich-kaestner-und-sein-leben100.html)

Photo source: Von Basch, [...] / Opdracht Anefo - [1] Dutch National Archives, The Hague, Fotocollectie Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (ANEFO), 1945-1989 bekijk toegang 2.24.01.09 Bestanddeelnummer 912-8730, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36966907

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