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Erich Kästner was a famous German writer of children's stories. He is probably best known for his book Emil and the Detectives. He was popular both in Germany and other countries, mostly within the German speaking world. He was well known in the Scandnavia and the Netherlands, but less so in France and English speaking countries. He was drafted at the age of 17 and was apauled both by the brutality of German military training as well as the War itself. Thus he became a life-long pacifist and as the NAZIs appeared on the political landscape, anti-NAZI. He worked as a journalist and began writing children's books. Most of his best books in terms of popularity were published during the Weimsar era. This included Emil and the Dective (Emil und die Detektive) and Pünktchen and Anton (1931). Kästner did flee Germany after the NAZI take over as many other abnti-NAZIs did (1933). He had his mother to care for and he wanted to chronicle what was happening in Germany. The Gestapo interrogated him, but did not arrest him. We are not entirely sure why. He was not involved in active resistance. The fact that he was known for children's books rather than serious literature may have been another factor. While he was not arrested, his books were burned. He even attended one of the book burnings. The NAZIs did not allowed him to publish during the Third Reich. The NAZIs objected to his pacifism. He survived the War, probably because he was able to get out of Berlin before the Soviet assault. He returned to writing after the War. He was never able to fit into West German society, especially after the German Economic Miracle. He objected to the remilitarization of West Germany. True to his pacifism, he coinsidered militarization a greater threat to Germany than the Soviet threat. He might have thought differently had he stayed iun Berlin. Here most Germans began to see their liberal democracy and prosperity as something which had to be defended. Kästner was active as a writer during the post-War period. HJis work included a good deal of social commentary and serious works (dramas, essays, screenplays, novels, and poetry). He is mostly remembered for the children's books he wrote during the Weimar era. After World War II, many of his books were made into films in Germany. There are over 20 film productions of Kästner's books. It was Walt Disney, however, who introduced two of Kästner's books to the English spoeaking world with productions of "Emil and the Dectectives" and the "Parent Trap" (Das doppelte Lottchen). Few Americans will, however, be able to name the author or even realize that the "Parent Trap" was based on a German book.
Emil hadca working-class background. His father was Emil Kästner, a saddler. His mother was Ida (Augustin) Kästner. With the advent of the automobile, jobs for sadlers and other leather working trades associated with horses began to decline. Emil fond a lower-paying job in a luggage factory. Ida supplemented the family income by taking odd jobs as a semstress and hairdresser.
Erich was born in Dresden (1899). He grew up in aworking-class Dresden home. Money was very tight and this would be reflected in some of his books.
Kästner attended the Lehrerseminar, a teacher's training college (secondary-level institution). This choice probably relected the fact that he could get a job teaching after completing the course. As his parents could not support a university-level educaton, it was probably the only option for a secondary education.
Kästner was drafted at the age of 17 at the end of World War I. He served in an infantry regiment.
He was apauled both by the brutality of German military training as well as the War itself. Thus he became a life-long pacifist and opponent of militarism. As the NAZIs appeared on the political landscape ewith their idealism of militarism, Kästner became anti-NAZI.
After the War, Kästner studied German literature at Leipzig university. He woirked his way through school. He worked aa a bank clerk and began his literary career as a journalist, writing for Die Weltbühne. He was awarded a Ph.D. for a dissertation on Frederick II and German literature (1925).
When Kästner lost an editorial position he moved from his home town of Dresden to Berlin (1927). He began freelance writing. One of his early published works was a collections of poems. Kästner along with journalism began writing children's books. He achieved some notice with the publication of Ein Mann Gibt Auskunft (1930). He was able to devote himself to hisd writing. He was elected to the membership of the German PEN club (1931) Most of his best books in terms of popularity were published during the Weimar era. This included Emil and the Dective (Emil und die Detektive) and Pünktchen and Anton (1931).
Kästner did flee Germany after the NAZI take over as many other abnti-NAZIs did (1933). He had his mother to care for and he wanted to chronicle what was happening in Germany. The Gestapo interrogated him, but did not arrest him. We are not entirely sure why. He was not involved in active resistance. The fact thsat he was known for children's books rather than serious literature may have been another factor. While he was not arrested, his books were burned. He even attended one of the book burnings. The NAZIs did not allowed him to publish during the Third Reich. The NAZIs objected to his pacifism. He survived the War, probably because he was able to get out of Berlin before the Soviet assault. He was of course apaulked by the Allied fire bombing of his home town of Dresden near the end of the War.
He returned to writing after the War. He was never able to fit into West German society, especially after the German Economic Miracle. He objected to the remilitarization of West Germany. True to his pacifism, he coinsidered militarization a greater threat to Germany than the Soviet threat. He might have thought differently had he stayed iun Berlin. Here most Germans began to see their liberal democracy and prosperity as something which had to be defended. Kästner was active as a writer during the post-War period. HJis work included a good deal of social commentary and serious works (dramas, essays, screenplays, novels, and poetry). He is mostly remembered for the children's books he wrote during the Weimar era.
Erich Kästner was a famous German writer of children's stories. He is probably best known for his book Emil and the Detectives. He was popular both in Germany and other countries, mostly within the German speaking world. He was well known in the Scandnavia and the Netherlands, but less so in France and English speaking countries.
The most authentic German film of the book Emil and the Detectives was filmed just before the NAZI take over (1933). After that the NAZIs banned further productins. After Wols War II, many of his children's books were made into films, primarily in Germany. There are over 20 film productions of Kästner's books. Most of the films were made after Workld War II, as the NAZIs not only burned his books and did not allow him to publish, but did not permit the books to be filmed. This changed after the War with many film adaptations. A good example is "Pünktchen and Anton" (1953). It was Walt Disney, however, who introduced two of Kästner's books to the English spoeaking world with productions of "Emil and the Dectectives" and the "Parent Trap" (Das doppelte Lottchen). The Disney production f Emil was a low budget TV serial. "The Parent Trap", however, was a major production starring Haley Mills. Few Americans will, however, be able to name the author or even realize that the "Parent Trap" was based on a German book, primarily as the setting was very American. A British reader writes, "The Walt Disney production of "Emil and the Detective" is not thought a good adaptation of the novel. It was not Walt Disney who introduced this Kastner's story to an audience outside Germany. It was Britain. His book "Emil and the Detectives" was first filmed in English in the U.K. (1935). There were subsequent remakes in the 1950s in colour. The Germans did a remake of Emil (1954). In this version the story line is changed somewhat. There is also a more modern version filmed around 2003 in Berlin. Most of his children stories have been filmed by German film companies. "The Parent Trap" is indeed a Kastner story. The best one after 'Emil and the Detectives' is 'The Flying Classroom'.
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