Rudolf Frank
Rudolf Frank was a versatile German literary figure and artist, whose career spanned various roles, including actor, stage manager, editor, translator, and writer. Born in Mainz, Germany, he began his theatrical career at the Reinhardt-Buehnen in Berlin in 1907 and later spent significant time at the Muenchener Kammerspiele. Frank's literary contributions included nearly fifty translations of works by notable authors such as John Steinbeck and Pearl Buck, often using pseudonyms. Among his writings, he is perhaps most recognized for his novel for young adults, *The Boy Who Forgot His Birthday*, which reflects his experiences during World War I through the story of a young Polish boy witnessing the horrors of war. The book garnered controversy in Nazi Germany, leading to Frank's arrest after it was publicly burned. Following his release, he escaped to Switzerland, where he spent the remainder of his life. His work has been recognized with awards, including the Gustav Heineman Peace Prize in 1983, and his novel was republished multiple times, affirming its lasting impact. Frank passed away in Switzerland in 1979, leaving a legacy marked by both artistic achievement and a deep engagement with the societal issues of his time.
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Rudolf Frank
Writer
- Born: September 16, 1886
- Birthplace: Mainz, Germany
- Died: October 25, 1979
- Place of death: Basel, Switzerland
Biography
Rudolf Frank devoted most of his early career to a wide range of literary and artistic pursuits, including working as an actor and stage manager in Germany, Romania, Switzerland, Italy, and Austria; editing; translating; and writing. Later in life he translated nearly fifty works by such authors as Pearl Buck, Rachel Field, John Steinbeck, Thomas Wolfe, and Sinclair Lewis, using a host of pseudonyms. His early career in the theater began in Berlin at the Reinhardt-Buehnen theater in 1907 and saw him moving frequently; he stayed the longest period at the Muenchener Kammerspiele, where he remained from 1919 to 1925.
He was born in Mainz, Germany, the son of Carl Theodor Frank, a timber merchant, and Mathilde (Eberstsheim) Frank. He married twice, first to Ottilie Henriette Mittendorf in 1918; they had one daughter, Renate Katherina Mathilde. Frank married again in 1929, to Anna Amalie Klein, with whom he had two children, Vincent Carl and Rene Antonio. Frank attended the universities of Munich, Zurich, Berlin, and Heidelberg, receiving a D.J. degree from the University of Giessen in 1909.
Despite a career that included prolific literary contribution, including novels, stage plays, radio plays, and films, Frank is perhaps best known for one novel for young adults, The Boy Who Forgot His Birthday. The autobiographical novel mirrors Frank’s experiences in World War I. The central Polish character, Jan, and his dog are the lone civilian survivors of a battle between the Germans and the Russians. The boy travels with the German soldiers and observes the stupidity and futility of war.
Frank’s novel, published at the time that Hitler and the Nazis were gaining power and leading Germany toward war, proved controversial and was burned in public. This led to his arrest by the Nazis. After being released from prison, Frank sought refuge in Switzerland and lived there for the rest of his life. His well-known novel was republished in 1982 as Der Junge, der seinen Geburtstag vergass: Ein Roman gegen den Krieg, Maier, and was later translated, first as The Boy Who Forgot His Birthday in 1985 and then again by Patricia Crampton in 1986 as No Hero for the Kaiser, with illustrations by Klaus Steffens. Frank’s novel was widely honored, most notably winning the Gustav Heineman Peace Prize in 1983. Frank died in Switzerland in 1979.