author
Franz Werfel
1890–1945
A major voice in 20th-century German-language literature, this Prague-born writer moved from Expressionist poetry and drama to sweeping novels shaped by faith, history, and exile. He is especially remembered for The Forty Days of Musa Dagh and The Song of Bernadette.
4 Audiobooks
Gesänge aus den drei Reichen: Ausgewählte Gedichte
by Franz Werfel
Nicht der Mörder, der Ermordete ist schuldig: Eine Novelle
by Franz Werfel
Kuoleman voittaja
by Franz Werfel
About the author
Born in Prague on September 10, 1890, Franz Werfel grew up in a Jewish family and became part of the rich literary world of Central Europe. He wrote poetry, plays, and novels, and was associated with Expressionism early in his career. His work often returned to big human questions: suffering, conscience, spiritual longing, and the dignity of ordinary people.
Werfel's best-known books include The Forty Days of Musa Dagh, his powerful novel about Armenian resistance during the genocide of 1915, and The Song of Bernadette, a bestselling novel inspired by the life of Bernadette of Lourdes. Across different genres, he was known for combining dramatic storytelling with moral seriousness and compassion.
As the Nazi threat spread, Werfel was forced into exile. He eventually reached the United States, where he spent his final years in California. He died in Beverly Hills on August 26, 1945, leaving behind a body of work that helped carry the experiences and anxieties of his era into literature.