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BIOGRAPHY
Gunter Grass, recipient of the 1999 Nobel Prize for Literature, was born in Danzig, Poland. He was educated at the Academy of Art in Duseldorf, and the Academy of Fine Arts in Berlin, and Dusseldorf Kunstakademie in Frankfurt. While a student he worked as a tombstone cutter and a jazz drummer. At the age of 16 he was drafted to serve in the German army. During World War II he was captured by the Americans as a prisoner of war. He was released in 1946 after the war ended.
Grass became a member of Gruppe 47 in 1955, and a year later he published his first work, a volume of poetry entitled DIE VORZUGE DER WINDHUHNER. He has also written novels, plays, and essays. His first novel, DIE BLECHTROMMEL (THE TIN DRUM), was very successful. His writings generally address social and political issues. Grass was a supporter of the Social Democrat Party in Germany in the 1960s, and he campaigned for both Willy Brandt and Gerhard Schroder. Both Social Democrats won their elections to become Chancellor of Germany. Grass is a recipient of the Georg Buechner Prize and the Thomas Mann Prize.
Grass currently lives with his wife in Behlendorf, Germany.
CHRONOLOGY
1927 He was born in Danzig, Germany, now Gdanacsk, Poland. (October 16)
1946 He was released as a prisoner of war by the Americans.
1947 He became a stonemason's apprentice.
1949 He began studying sculpture at the Dusseldorf Kunstakademie.
1955 He became a member of Gruppe 47.
1956 Die Vorzuge Der Windhuhner; Hochwasser (Flood)
1958 Onkel, Onkel (Mister, Mister); Noch Zehn Minuten Bis Buffalo (Only Ten Minutes To Buffalo); He was Aawarded The Preis Der Gruppe 47.
1959 Die Blechtrommel (The Tin Drum)
1960 He settled in Berlin.
1961 Die Bosen Koche (The Wicked Cooks); Katz Und Maus (Cat And Mouse)
1963 Hundejahre (Dog Years)
1965 He won the Georg Buechner Prize.
1968 Speak Out: Speeches, Open Letters, Commentaries; He was awarded the Fontane Prize.
1969 Ortlich Betaubt (Local Anaesthetic)
1972 Der Burger Und Seine Stimme (The Citizen And His Vote)
1977 Der Butt (The Flounder)
1979 Das Treffen In Telgte (The Meeting At Telgte)
1980 Kopfgeburten: Oder Die Deutschen Sterben Aus (Headbirths: Or, The Germans Are Dying Out)
1983 He became president ff The Akademie Der Kunste In Berlin.
1985 On Writing And Politics
1992 Unkenrufe (The Call Of The Toad)
1995 Ein Weites Feld (A Broad Field)
1999 Mein Jahrhundert (My Century); He was awarded The Nobel Prize For Literature.
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