Hanns Heinz Ewers

Hanns Heinz Ewers (1871–1943) was a German writer, cabaret artist, journalist and filmmaker. Born in Düsseldorf and trained in law, he worked in part for the Berlin cabaret Überbrettl before becoming known in the early twentieth century for fantastic and uncanny fiction. His best-known works include the novels “Alraune” (1911), “Vampir” (1920) and “Der Geisterseher” (1922), as well as the story collections “Das Grauen” (1907) and “Die Besessenen” (1908). Ewers’s interest in provocative subjects and his eccentric public persona contributed to his reputation as a controversial bestselling author. His temporary association with National Socialism and a subsequent publication ban contributed to his long and ambivalent reception in Germany.