Otfried Preußler
Encyclopedia
Otfried Preußler (born October 20, 1923) is a German
children's books
author. His best-known works are The Robber Hotzenplotz and The Satanic Mill
(Krabat).
He was born in Liberec
, Czechoslovakia
. His forefathers had lived in this area since the 15th century, working in the glass industry. His parents were teachers. After he graduated school in 1942, in the midst of World War II
, he was drafted into the Wehrmacht Heer. Although he survived the military action on the Eastern Front
, he was taken prisoner as a 21-year-old lieutenant in 1944. He spent the next five years in various POW camps in the Tatar Republic
.
After his release in June 1949, he was lucky to find his displaced relatives and his fiancée, Annelies Kind in the Bavaria
n town of Rosenheim
. They celebrated their wedding that same year.
Between 1953 and 1970 he was initially a primary school teacher, then a school principal in Rosenheim
. There his talents as a storyteller and illustrator were put to good use, and often the stories he told the children would later be written down and published.
He won the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis
in 1972 for Krabat.
Preußler currently resides in Haidholzen, near Rosenheim
.
German literature
German literature comprises those literary texts written in the German language. This includes literature written in Germany, Austria, the German part of Switzerland, and to a lesser extent works of the German diaspora. German literature of the modern period is mostly in Standard German, but there...
children's books
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
author. His best-known works are The Robber Hotzenplotz and The Satanic Mill
The Satanic Mill
-Plot:Set in the late 17th century, the story follows the life of Krabat, a 14-year old Wendish beggar boy living in the eastern part of Saxony. For three consecutive nights, he is called through a dream to a watermill near the village Schwarzkollm. Upon heeding the call and arriving at the mill,...
(Krabat).
He was born in Liberec
Liberec
Liberec is a city in the Czech Republic. Located on the Lusatian Neisse and surrounded by the Jizera Mountains and Ještěd-Kozákov Ridge, it is the fifth-largest city in the Czech Republic....
, Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
. His forefathers had lived in this area since the 15th century, working in the glass industry. His parents were teachers. After he graduated school in 1942, in the midst of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was drafted into the Wehrmacht Heer. Although he survived the military action on the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
, he was taken prisoner as a 21-year-old lieutenant in 1944. He spent the next five years in various POW camps in the Tatar Republic
Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic
Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was part of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. It was created on May 27, 1920...
.
After his release in June 1949, he was lucky to find his displaced relatives and his fiancée, Annelies Kind in the Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n town of Rosenheim
Rosenheim
Rosenheim is a town in Bavaria at the confluence of the rivers Inn and Mangfall. It is seat of administration of the district of Rosenheim, but is not a part of it.-Geography:...
. They celebrated their wedding that same year.
Between 1953 and 1970 he was initially a primary school teacher, then a school principal in Rosenheim
Rosenheim
Rosenheim is a town in Bavaria at the confluence of the rivers Inn and Mangfall. It is seat of administration of the district of Rosenheim, but is not a part of it.-Geography:...
. There his talents as a storyteller and illustrator were put to good use, and often the stories he told the children would later be written down and published.
He won the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis
Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis
The Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis is an annual award established in 1956 by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth to recognise outstanding works of children's literature. It is Germany's only state-funded literary award. In the past, authors from many countries...
in 1972 for Krabat.
Preußler currently resides in Haidholzen, near Rosenheim
Rosenheim
Rosenheim is a town in Bavaria at the confluence of the rivers Inn and Mangfall. It is seat of administration of the district of Rosenheim, but is not a part of it.-Geography:...
.
Known works translated into English
- The Robber Hotzenplotz, ISBN 0200712721.
- The Satanic MillThe Satanic Mill-Plot:Set in the late 17th century, the story follows the life of Krabat, a 14-year old Wendish beggar boy living in the eastern part of Saxony. For three consecutive nights, he is called through a dream to a watermill near the village Schwarzkollm. Upon heeding the call and arriving at the mill,...
/The Curse of the Darkling Mill (originally: Krabat), ISBN 0844661961. - The Little Witch, ISBN 0340167041.
- The Little Water Sprite, ISBN 0340286431.
- The Little Ghost, ISBN 0340167033.
- The Wise Men of Schilda.
- Herbie's Magical Hat.