Wolfdietrich Schnurre, one of the original members of the writers' association Gruppe 47, writes successful short stories and novels with episodic structures. He has also written radio plays and poems. Many of his works are humorous or satirical and are illustrated with witty sketches by the author. His work does not aspire to be great literature, but he has a secure place as a representative of the first generation of German writers after World War II.

Schnurre was born in Frankfurt in 1920; his father, Otto Schnurre, was a librarian and scientist. In 1928 the family moved to Berlin, where Schnurre attended a socialist elementary school until 1934 and a humanistic secondary school from 1935 until 1939. The boy became familiar with the working-class neighborhoods of Berlin, where unemployment was high; where many types of people, including Jews and Gypsies, mingled; and where the political orientation was mostly Communist or social democrat. He was...