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James Krüss

ジェームズ・クルース

Jēmuzu Kurūs

Aliases: James Jacob Hinrich Krüss

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1926-05-31 （Heligoland）
Died
1997-08-02 （Gran Canaria, Canary Islands） age 71
Nationality
German
Languages
German
Residence History
Heligoland → Arnstadt, Thuringia → Hertigswalde, Saxony → Cuxhaven → Reinbek, near Hamburg → Lochham, near Munich → Gilching, Bavaria → Gran Canaria

Career

Occupations
writer, illustrator, poet, dramatist, scriptwriter, translator, collector of children's poems and folk songs
Active Years
1946-1997
Influenced By
Erich Kästner

Education

Lunden College of Education
Teacher Training
Period: 1943
Year of Graduation: 1943
Country: Germany
Schleswig-Holstein
Ratzeburg College of Education
Teacher Training
Period: 1944
Year of Graduation: 1944
Country: Germany
Brunswick College of Education
Teacher Training
Period: 1944
Country: Germany
Lüneburg College of Education
Teacher Training
Degree: 教師免許
Period: 1946-1948
Year of Graduation: 1948
Country: Germany
Lower Saxony

Awards

Hans Christian Andersen Award
1968
Category: 執筆部門
Organization: International Board on Books for Young People
Result: 受賞
Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis
1960
Work: My Great Grandfather and I
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Timm Thaler

1962 Children's literature

A fantasy story about a boy Tim who sells his laughter.

laughterfriendshipmorality
Adaptations
  • [TV miniseries] Timm Thaler / Sigi Rothemund (1979)

The Lighthouse on Lobster Cliffs

1956 Children's literature

Story based on his childhood on Heligoland.

adventureseaisland

My Great Grandfather and I

1959 Children's literature

Collection of tales framed by grandfather stories.

folktalesfamily

Henriette

1958 Picture book

Picture book about an anthropomorphized steam train.

adventuretrains

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Storytelling rooted in folktale traditionWhimsical and fantastic tales
Recurring Motifs
Frame stories with folktalesSea and island motifs

Health

  • Heart problems
    晩年
    Spent much time in clinics towards end of life

Legacy

Leading German children's author, key in post-war revival. Received Hans Christian Andersen Award. James Krüss Award established in his honor.

In Popular Culture

  • James Krüss Award for International Children's and Youth Literature established

Trivia

  • Born on Heligoland, evacuated during WWII.
  • Spent later years in Gran Canaria, buried at sea.
  • Obtained teaching license but never taught.