Daniel Kehlmann

Daniel Kehlmann, born on January thirteenth, nineteen seventy-five, is a distinguished German-language novelist and playwright, holding dual nationality from Austria and Germany. He is celebrated for his innovative storytelling and has made significant contributions to literature as a translator, writer, and screenwriter.

His acclaimed novel, Die Vermessung der Welt (translated into English as Measuring the World in two thousand six), stands as the best-selling book in the German language since Patrick Süskind's Perfume in nineteen eighty-five. This work, which explores the lives of the renowned naturalist Alexander von Humboldt and mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss, was recognized by The New York Times as the world's second-best selling novel in two thousand six.

Kehlmann's literary prowess continued with subsequent novels that consistently topped Germany's Spiegel bestseller list and were translated into English. His collaboration with Jonathan Franzen and Paul Reitter on The Kraus Project in two thousand thirteen further showcased his versatility.

In addition to his novels, Kehlmann has made a mark in theater. His play The Mentor, translated by Christopher Hampton, premiered at Theatre Royal, Bath, in April two thousand seventeen and later moved to the London West End. His other notable works include Christmas Eve and the novella You Should Have Left, which was adapted into a film featuring Kevin Bacon and Amanda Seyfried.

Kehlmann's novel Tyll, released in two thousand seventeen, sold over six hundred thousand copies in German and was published in the US in February two thousand twenty. It is currently being adapted into a Netflix series by the creators of Dark and was shortlisted for the 2020 International Booker Prize. His play Die Reise der Verlorenen was adapted for BBC radio by Tom Stoppard as The Voyage of the St. Louis. Most recently, his novel Lichtspiel, translated into English by Ross Benjamin, was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize in two thousand twenty-six.