Heinrich Boll

Date of Birth: December 21, 1917

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: July 16, 1985

Biography

Heinrich Theodor Böll was a prominent German writer who made significant contributions to post-World War II literature. Born on December 21, 1917, in Cologne, Germany, Böll grew up in a Catholic family, which greatly influenced his perspectives and writings. He studied German and Classical Philology at the University of Cologne but his education was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II. During the war, he served as a soldier in the Wehrmacht, experiencing the front lines and spending time as a prisoner of war. After the war, Böll returned to Cologne and began his career as a writer. His works often focused on the struggles of the ordinary German citizen in the aftermath of the war, critiquing the materialism and moral decay he perceived in society. Some of his most famous works include “Billiards at Half-Past Nine,” “Group Portrait with Lady,” and “The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum.” Böll’s writing earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature in 1972. He was also involved in social and political causes, using his position to advocate for human rights and free speech. Heinrich Böll passed away on July 16, 1985, in Langenbroich, Germany, leaving behind a rich literary legacy that continues to influence writers and readers worldwide.

5 Interesting Facts about Heinrich Boll

1. Heinrich Böll won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1972 for his contributions to German literature.

2. He was a vocal critic of the German government’s policies and used his writings to advocate for social justice and human rights.

3. Böll served as a soldier in the Wehrmacht during World War II and was a prisoner of war in the United States.

4. Several of Böll’s works have been adapted into films, including “The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum” and “Group Portrait with Lady.”

5. He was highly influenced by his Catholic upbringing, which is reflected in the moral and ethical themes of his works.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Heinrich Boll

1. “What people regard as vanity—leaving great works behind—is really an instinct for survival.”

2. “Not even the most powerful organs of the press can replace the work of a single writer.”

3. “A writer who does not teach his reader something is a writer who has wasted his reader’s time.”

4. “Humor is really a kind of sympathy in the face of human frailty.”

5. “There are no superfluous words, just as there are no superfluous people.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Heinrich Böll’s highest net worth is not well-documented, as he lived in an era when such figures were not commonly publicized, and he was known more for his literary contributions than for his financial success.

Children

Heinrich Böll had four children with his wife, Annemarie Cech, whom he married in 1942. Their children are: Raimund Böll, René Böll, Vincent Böll, and Viktor Böll.