Erich Kästner was born in Dresden in 1899. He studied German, history, philosophy and the history of theatre at the University of Leipzig. He completed his doctorate in 1925 and moved to Berlin two years later, where he worked as a theatre critic and staff writer for various newspapers and magazines. In 1928 he published his first volume of poems, "Herz auf taille", and the children's book "Emil and the Detectives", with which he made his literary breakthrough.
In 1933 his books were burned and banned by the Nazis. Nevertheless he wrote a few more titles for children and adults, some of which were published in Switzerland, until he was also forbidden to publish abroad. After the war he was the cultural editor for the newly founded Neue Zeitung newspaper in Munich and published Pinguin, a children's magazine.
Kästner's books for children are now regarded as classics in their genre. They have been translated into more than 50 languages and made into films seen around the world.
In 1960 Erich Kästner received the Hans Christian Andersen Award for his complete works.
He died on July 29, 1974 in Munich.