Erich Loest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Erich Loest
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Loest in 2008
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| Born | 24 February 1926 Mittweida, Saxony |
| Died | 12 September 2013 (aged 87) Leipzig, Saxony |
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| Occupation | Writer |
| Language | German |
| Nationality | German |
| Genre | German history |
| Notable awards | Hans Fallada Prize (1981) |
Erich Loest (born February 24, 1926 – died September 12, 2013) was a German writer. He was born in Mittweida, a town in Saxony, Germany. He also used different names for his writing, known as pseudonyms. These included Hans Walldorf, Bernd Diksen, and Waldemar Naß.
Life as a Writer
Erich Loest was a soldier during World War II. He was captured by American troops in 1945. After the war, in 1947, he joined a political party called the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED). He started working as a journalist for a newspaper in Leipzig.
His first novels were strongly criticized by the government. Because of this, he lost his job at the newspaper. He then became a writer who worked for himself.
In 1957, he was removed from the SED party. He was then held in a special prison run by the Stasi. The Stasi was East Germany's secret police. He was accused of working against the government. He was not allowed to write during this time. He was held in prison until 1964.
From 1965 to 1975, Erich Loest wrote many books and short stories. He sometimes used his pen names for these works. In 1979, he was forced to leave East Germany. He did not return until after the Berlin Wall fell in 1990. This event changed Germany greatly.
In 1995, a film called Nikolaikirche was made. It was based on a story Loest first wrote as a screenplay. He later turned it into a novel. In his later years, Loest became very ill. In 2010, he announced that he no longer had the strength to write new novels. He passed away at the age of 87.
His Books
Erich Loest wrote many books during his life. Here are a few examples of his works:
- Jungen, die übrig blieben (1950)
- Aktion Bumerang (1957)
- Sliwowitz und Angst (1965)
- Der Abhang (1968)
- Der elfte Mann (1969)
- Schattenboxen (1973)
- Die Oma im Schlauchboot (1976)
- Pistole mit sechzehn (1979)
- Durch die Erde ein Riß (1981)
- Zwiebelmuster (1985)
- Fallhöhe (1989)
- Die Stasi war mein Eckermann oder: mein Leben mit der Wanze (1991)
- Nikolaikirche (1995)
- Reichsgericht (2001)
See also
In Spanish: Erich Loest para niños
- List of East German authors
- List of German-language authors
