Michael Ende

Michael Ende (1929 – 1995)

Born the son of a surrealist painter and a physiotherapist, Michael Ende evaded military service (and war campaigns) under the German National Socialists (Nazis) by hiding. After the war, he studied drama and performed as an actor and comedian before becoming one of the most successful German writers ever.

In the UK, Michael Ende is mostly known for the children's books The Neverending Story (1979), Momo (1973) and Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver (1960). In his native Germany, he has published a large variety of children's books for all ages, novels and non fiction for adults and several very successful stageplays.

Home page: http://www.michaelende.de/ 

Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver

(Jim Knopf and Lukas der Lokomotivführer)

Published 1963 by translated by Anthea Bell, re-issued in 1990 by Overlord

When their little island becomes over-populated, Jim Button and his best friend Luke transform the train Molly into a boat and go to sea to save the Princess of China. The book has a sequel in German (Jim Knopf und die Wilde Dreizehn), which has not been translated into English.

Status: Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver (ISBN: 0879513918), out of Print, available used from Amazon (please take a seat before looking up prices, you just might faint)

Momo (The Grey Gentlemen)

Published 1974 by Burke as The Grey Gentlemen, English translation by Francis Lobb
Published 1984 by Penguin as Momo, English translation by J. Maxwell Brownjohn

When a group of grey men move into a city and start buying up time from the citizens, a little girl with the peculiar ability to listen is the only person who can stop them.

Status: The Grey Gentlemen translation by Francis Lobb (ISBN 0140094644) out of print, but available used. Momo (Puffin Books) translation by J Maxwell Brownjohn (9783423109581) in print and available new.

The Dream-Eater

(Das Traumfresserschen)

Published by Everyman in 1978,
English translation by Gwen Mars

Picture book for smaller children about a princess who exiles the Dream-Eater. When the country is ravaged by nightmares, her father has to go on a journey to find him again. The book has been transformed into a very successful opera in Germany.

Status: The Dream-eater translated by Gwen Mars (ISBN 9783522470704), out of print, sometimes available second-hand

The Neverending Story

(Die unendliche Geschichte)

Published by Allen Lane 1983

English translation by R. Manheim

Michael Ende's most famous book, quite unfairly so due to the movie which the author despised. When Balthazar Bux is chased by bullies in his school, he seeks refuge in a book shop whose owner is reading The Neverending Story. Intrigued, Balthazar steals the book and moves into the school's attic to read it. Soon he becomes personally involved in the events and adventures told in the book.

Status: The Neverending Story (Puffin Books) translated by R. Manheim (ISBN: 9780140317930) is still in print and can be purchased new.

The Mirror in the Mirror (Der Spiegel im Spiegel: Ein Labyrinth) Published by Viking 1986, English translation by J Maxwell Brownjohn Written for adults, this is an homage to Michael Ende's father Edgar, and his paintings. The Mirror in the Mirror contains interwoven stories that each relate to the works of Edgar Ende, a renowned surrealist painter in Germany before and after World War II. Status: Mirror in the Mirror English translation by J Maxwell Brownjohn, out of print but available second hand.   The Night of Wishes, or the Satanarchaeolidealcohellish Notion Potion (Der satanarschäolügenialkohöllischen Wunschpunsch) Published by Farrar Straus & Giroux in 1992, English translation by Heike Schwarzhauer and Rick Takvorian During a revision, it is discovered that minister Belzebub has not performed his duties according to his contract with hell, which means he did not wreak havoc, poison rivers and destroy the Earth. He is given until midnight to do something about it, or will go into receivership. While Belzebub is trying to make amends, his cats have other plans. Status: The Night of Wishes: Or the Satanarchaeolidealcohellish Notion Potion, translated by Heike Schwarzhauer and Rick Takvorian is out of print but still widely available second hand.