Ende, Michael
Ende, Michael (1929–95),internationally known German author of fantasy literature and children's books. Ende was the son of the surrealist painter Edgar Ende and spent the years 1931–43 as a child in Munich's artist district, where he came under the influence of artists and writers associated with his father. Later, through the Waldorf School in Stuttgart, he became acquainted with the anthroposophic writings of Rudolf Steiner, who had developed esoteric interpretations of German fairy tales. He also studied acting in Munich, and his interest in theatre led him to the theoretical works of Bertolt Brecht. However, he ultimately abandoned Brecht's ideas because they advocated the destruction of illusion. Instead, Ende embraced fantasy as the creative force that would drive his work.
Although Ende published in a wide range of genres—including poetry, drama, short fiction, and picture books—he is best known for his fantasy...
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