author
Paul Ernst
1866–1933
A German writer, dramatist, critic, and journalist, he moved from early political journalism toward a more philosophical and literary career. He became especially known for short stories, essays, and plays that helped shape debates about literature and ideas in the German-speaking world.
2 Audiobooks
Der schmale Weg zum Glück
by Paul Ernst
Der Tod des Cosimo
by Paul Ernst
About the author
Born on March 7, 1866, in Elbingerode, Paul Ernst studied theology and philosophy at the universities of Göttingen and Tübingen before turning fully to writing. Early in his career he was active in journalism and Social Democratic politics, but he later left party politics behind and devoted himself to literature, criticism, and philosophical reflection.
Over time, he built a reputation as a prolific author of dramas, novellas, essays, and criticism. Reference works describe him as especially noted for his short stories and for essays on literary, philosophical, and economic questions, while his wider body of work also reflects his strong interest in form, ethics, and the role of art in modern life.
Ernst died on May 13, 1933, in Styria, Austria. Though not as widely read today as some of his contemporaries, he remains an interesting figure for listeners curious about German literature at the turn of the twentieth century, especially where storytelling meets big intellectual questions.