German poet and novelist. He wrote humorous and satirical novels for both children and adults. Because of his criticism of social conditions and anti-fascist stance, his writing was banned during the Nazi regime. Among his best known books are Emil und die Detektive (Emil and the Detectives, 1931); Fabian, a commentary on the Weimar Republic; and Drei Männer im Schnee (Three Men in the Snow, 1834). He was awarded the Büchner Prize for literature in 1957.