Hans Magnus Enzensberger was born November 11, 1929 in Kaufbeuren, Germany, and educated at the Universities of Erlangen, Freiburg, Hamburg, and Paris. His main literary work is in poetry and essay, supplemented by excursions into theater, film, opera, radio drama, reportage, and translation, as well as one or two novels and several books for children.
Enzensberger founded of the quarterly Kursbuch in 1965 and a monthly TransAtlantik, in 1980. Since 1985, Enzensberger has directed Die Andere Bibliothek, published in Frankfurt. His own work has been translated into more than 40 languages.