Marking the 50th anniversary of the death of Erich Kästner (1899-1974), the beloved children's author, the Leo Baeck Institute is holding a conference dealing with his personality, the body of his work, and his reception in Israel.
Kästner is primarily famous today because of his children’s books – “Emil and the Detectives”, “Lottie and Lisa”, “Dot and Anton”, “The Flying Classroom”, and many others. Yet, he was also a renowned poet, journalist, and critic widely published in the left-wing liberal press. He was also a productive and talented cinema and cabaret playwright and filmmaker. The conference title, “Der doppelte Erich”(“Double Erich”) deals with the duality of his personality and oeuvre: his compassionate, humorous, and positive children’s books versus his bitter, cynical, and critical writings for adults. Kästner belonged to the liberal left-wing bohemian circles that stood for freedom and equal rights for women, yet he also demonstrated a distinct misogynist attitude. On top of all, his puzzling choice to stay in Nazi Germany and keep working and creating there, while most of his circle either fled Germany or was murdered. Kästner’s own books were burned, and he was investigated by the Gestapo.
At the Cinematheque, we will hold a program dedicated to film adaptations of Kästner, accompanied by lectures, as well as one film dealing with his life during Nazi Germany.
In light of all this, it is quote incredible that he was universally beloved by his Hebrew readers – even more so than by his German ones. His books, mainly those for children, were translated into Hebrew time and again and were (and still are!) read by Israelis generation after generation.
With gratitude to Goethe-Institut for its generous support
