Felix Salten facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Felix Salten
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Felix Salten, around 1910
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| Born | Siegmund Salzmann 6 September 1869 Pest, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | 8 October 1945 (aged 76) Zurich, Switzerland |
| Resting place | Israelitischer Friedhof (Friesenberg), Fluntern, Zurich, Switzerland |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Nationality | Austro-Hungarian |
| Notable works | The Hound of Florence Bambi, a Life in the Woods Bambi's Children |
| Spouse | Ottilie Metzl |
| Children | Paul Anna-Katharina |
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Felix Salten (born Siegmund Salzmann; September 6, 1869 – October 8, 1945) was a famous Austro-Hungarian writer. He also worked as a critic in Vienna. His most well-known book is Bambi, a Life in the Woods, which he wrote in 1923.
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Who Was Felix Salten?
Felix Salten was born on September 6, 1869. His birth name was Siegmund Salzmann. He was born in a city called Pest in Austria-Hungary. When he was just four weeks old, his family moved to Vienna, Austria. Many Jewish families like his were moving to Vienna at that time. This was because Jewish people had been given full citizenship rights in 1867.
When Felix was 16, his father faced financial difficulties. Felix had to leave school and start working for an insurance company. But he also loved to write. He began sending his poems and book reviews to different magazines.
Early Writing Career
Felix Salten soon became part of a group of young writers in Vienna. This group was called "Young Vienna" (Jung Wien). He quickly found work as a full-time critic. He wrote about art and theater for major newspapers in Vienna.
In 1900, he published his first collection of short stories. A year later, in 1901, he started Vienna's first literary cabaret. It was a short-lived theater for new writers.
Felix Salten was a very busy writer. He published about one book every year. These books included plays, short stories, novels, travel books, and essays. He also wrote for almost all the big newspapers in Vienna. He even wrote movie scripts and stories for operettas. In 1927, he became the president of the Austrian P.E.N. club. This is a worldwide association of writers.
Bambi and Other Famous Works
Felix Salten was a big fan of hunting. His most famous book is Bambi, which came out in 1923. This story is about a young deer growing up in the forest.
The book was translated into English in 1928. It became very popular in America. In 1933, Salten sold the movie rights to an American director named Sidney Franklin. He sold them for only $1,000. Later, Franklin sold these rights to the Walt Disney studios. This led to the famous 1942 animated movie, Bambi.
Felix Salten also wrote other books about animals. These include Bambi’s Children: The Story of a Forest Family (1939). His stories Perri and The Hound of Florence also inspired Disney films. Perri became a movie in 1957. The Hound of Florence inspired The Shaggy Dog in 1959.
Life During Difficult Times
Life became difficult for Jewish people in Austria during the 1930s. In Germany, Adolf Hitler came to power. He ordered that Salten's books be banned in 1936. Two years later, Germany took control of Austria. This event was called the Anschluss.
Because of these dangers, Felix Salten moved to Zurich, Switzerland with his wife. He spent his last years there. Felix Salten passed away on October 8, 1945, when he was 76 years old. He is buried in Zurich.
Felix Salten married an actress named Ottilie Metzl in 1902. They had two children together: Paul (born 1903) and Anna Katharina (born 1904).
Selected Books by Felix Salten
- 1923 – The Hound of Florence (Der Hund von Florenz)
- 1923 – Bambi: A Life in the Woods (Bambi: Eine Lebensgeschichte aus dem Walde)
- 1929 – Fifteen Rabbits (Fünfzehn Hasen)
- 1931 – The City Jungle (Freunde aus aller Welt)
- 1933 – Florian: The Emperor’s Stallion (Florian: Das Pferd des Kaisers)
- 1938 – Perri (Die Jugend des Eichhörnchens Perri)
- 1939 – Bambi's Children (Bambis Kinder: Eine Familie im Walde)
- 1940 – Renni the Rescuer
- 1942 – A Forest World
- 1945 – Djibi, the Kitten
Movies Based on Salten's Work
- Florian (1940)
- Bambi (1942)
- Perri (1957)
- The Shaggy Dog (1959)
