Kurt Lütgen
Kurt Lütgen was a German author born on November 25, 1911, in Glietzig, Pomerania, now part of Poland. He grew up in a rural environment, which deeply influenced his later work as a poet and historian. After studying history and philosophy at the University of Halle, Lütgen worked in various publishing roles before serving in the German army during World War II. Following the war, he transitioned to freelance writing and editing, focusing on historical nonfiction and biographies of explorers. His first significant publication, a biography of James Cook, was released in 1950 and marked the beginning of a prolific writing career that spanned several decades. Lütgen's works were recognized for their engaging narratives and ability to highlight lesser-known historical figures and events. He was awarded multiple prestigious prizes for his contributions to literature, including the Friedrich Gerstäcker Award. Lütgen passed away on July 25, 1992, leaving behind a legacy of exploration-themed literature for both young and adult audiences.
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Kurt Lütgen
- Born: November 25, 1911
- Birthplace: Glietzig, Pomerania, Germany (now in Poland)
- Died: July 25, 1992
- Place of death: Bad Salzuflen, Germany
Biography
Kurt Bodo Heinrich Lütgen was born on November 25, 1911, at Glietzig, Pomerania, in an area of Germany that is now part of Poland. His parents were Conrad Lütgen and Louise Rademacher Lütgen, and his ancestors had lived in central Germany before moving to Pomerania. When he was eight years old, he and his family moved to a town near Magdeburg, where his father purchased a fruit farm. Lütgen enjoyed exploring his family’s estate. By 1923, he reluctantly boarded at a Magdeburg high school. Missing his rural life, Lütgen overcame his melancholia when he realized that writing enabled him to create poetry describing his family farm. Because his literary experiences comforted him, Lütgen aspired to become a poet.
From 1931 to 1933, Lütgen studied history and philosophy at the University of Halle, becoming intrigued by historical figures and events which he later appropriated for his books. After leaving the university, he sold books for a store and a publisher in Leipzig and Essen an der Ruhr until 1938. On August 11, 1939, Lütgen married Elisabeth Kukuk. He worked as an editor in Essen an der Ruhr from 1939 through 1941.
During World War II, Lütgen served with the German army from 1942 until the war ended in Europe. After the war he freelanced, securing editing assignments and writing historical nonfiction books. Lütgen also translated books initially published in other languages for German readers. He traveled to the places featured in his books, including Australia.
Lütgen’s first wife died on April 20, 1966; on July 9, 1968, he married librarian Gisela Winter. He eventually moved to Bad Salzuflen in West Germany, where he died on July 25, 1992.
During the 1930’s, Lütgen was frustrated by the many rejections he received from publishers. His mother and first wife encouraged him to keep writing. After World War II, Lütgen researched and wrote his first published book, a biography of James Cook, which appeared in 1950. Realizing he had strong research skills, he concentrated on writing histories of notable explorations and biographies of adventurers. Each project led him to chronicle related subjects, and he prolifically created nonfiction and fiction books for both young and adult readers through the early 1980’s.
Reviewers praised Lütgen’s ability to authentically depict the hardships, sacrifices, and endurance associated with explorations, and his suspenseful writing style appealed to readers of all ages. His writing often introduced readers to obscure historical figures and places that had been overlooked in other texts.
In 1952, Lütgen’s first book, Der grosse Kapitan: Lebensgeschichte und Entdeckungsfahrten des englischen Seemanns James Cook, won the Friedrich Gerstäcker Award from the city of Braunschweig, Germany. He was presented with a second Gerstäcker Award in 1972 for Kapitane, Schiffe, Abenteuer: Bilder von Walter Grieder. His novel, Kein Winter fuer Woelfe: Die Geschichte eines unruhigen Lebens zwischen Groenland und Alaska (1955; Two Against the Arctic: The Story of a Restless Life Between Greenland and Alaska, 1957), received an award for the best German- published book for children in 1955. Lütgen also received that prize in 1967 for Das Ratsel Nordwestpassage: Der Kampf um den Seeweg vom Atlantik zum Pazifik.