Irmgard Keun | |
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Born | 6 February 1905 Charlottenburg, Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire |
Died | 5 May 1982 Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany | (aged 77)
Resting place | Melaten cemetery, Cologne |
Occupation | author |
Language | German |
Nationality | German |
Alma mater | Berlitz school |
Period | 1931–1962 |
Literary movement | New Objectivity |
Notable works | The Artificial Silk Girl, After Midnight |
Spouse | Johannes Tralow (m. 1932–div. 1937) |
Partner | Joseph Roth |
Children | 1 |
Website | |
www |
Irmgard Keun ([ˈɪʁmɡaʁt ˈkɔɪ̯n]; 6 February 1905 – 5 May 1982) was a German novelist. Noted for her portrayals of the life of women, she is described as "often reduced to the bold sexuality of her writing, [yet] a significant author of the late Weimar period and die Neue Sachlichkeit."[1] She was born into an affluent family and was given the autonomy to explore her passions. After her attempts at acting ended at the age of 16, Keun began working as a writer after years of working in Hamburg and Greifswald. Her books were banned by Nazi authorities but gained recognition during the final years of her life.