Peter Hacks

Peter Hacks, born on March twenty-first, nineteen twenty-eight, in Breslau, Lower Silesia, was a prominent German playwright, writer, and poet. His early life was marked by the upheaval of World War II, which led him to settle in Munich in nineteen forty-seven. It was in this vibrant city that he formed significant connections with literary giants such as Thomas Mann and Bertolt Brecht.

In nineteen fifty-five, Hacks followed Brecht to East Berlin, although their collaboration did not flourish as anticipated. By nineteen sixty, he had taken on the role of dramaturge at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin. However, his tenure was cut short following the controversial staging of his play, Die Sorgen und die Macht, in nineteen sixty-two, which drew criticism from officials. This prompted him to resign and pursue a career as a freelance writer.

Hacks achieved notable success on the international stage, particularly with his play Ein Gespräch im Hause Stein über den abwesenden Herrn von Goethe, known in English as Charlotte. His works garnered him recognition in both East Germany and West Germany, solidifying his literary reputation. A committed communist, Hacks supported the East German government's decision to expatriate singer Wolf Biermann in nineteen seventy-six, and his correspondence with historian Kurt Gossweiler was later published.

Throughout his career, Hacks received several accolades, including the Alex Wedding Prize in nineteen ninety-two and the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in nineteen ninety-eight. He passed away in Groß Machnow, leaving behind a legacy of impactful literature. Alongside his wife, he also wrote under the pseudonym Saul O’Hara, producing boulevard comedies such as Risky Marriage.