Erich Kastner author page

Erich Kästner biography

Erich Kästner was a German author, poet, and screenwriter, best known for his works for children. He was born in Dresden and studied at the University of Leipzig, where he read history, philosophy, German studies, and theatre. Kästner began his career as a journalist and theatre critic before publishing his first children’s book, Emil und die Detektive (Emil and the Detectives), in 1929. The novel achieved immediate success and has been translated into numerous languages.

Kästner wrote several other notable children’s books, including Pünktchen und Anton (1931), Das fliegende Klassenzimmer (1933), and Das doppelte Lottchen (1949), which was later adapted into the film The Parent Trap. His works often feature themes of friendship, justice, and resilience, and are recognised for their wit and social commentary.

During the Nazi regime, Kästner’s books were among those banned and burned, but he remained in Germany and continued to write, focusing on screenplays and cabaret texts. After the Second World War, he resumed publishing children’s literature and also wrote for adults.

Kästner received several literary awards, including the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1960 for his lasting contribution to children’s literature. His book Emil und die Detektive remains one of the most successful German children’s books of the twentieth century.