Otto Flake

Born in Metz on October 29, 1880, and later dying in Baden-Baden on November 10, 1963, Otto Flake was a German writer whose career ranged across fiction, essays, literary criticism, editing, cultural commentary, and translation.

After a difficult childhood, he studied German literature, philosophy, Sanskrit, and art history in Strasbourg, though he did not complete a degree. He spent formative years in Paris and moved in literary circles that helped shape his broad, cosmopolitan outlook.

Flake is remembered as an important voice in German-language modernism, especially for a kind of prose that blends narrative with reflection. Alongside his creative work, he remained active as a critic and translator, building a body of writing that shows both intellectual range and a steady interest in European culture.