"The East Prussian (Masurian) author Ernst Wiechert (1887-1950), whose opposition against injustice and terror resulted in his internment in a concentration camp in 1938, is well-known as the author of "Der Totenwald" [Forest of the Dead], an account of conditions in Buchenwald. He was one of the most popular novelists in the 20th century, and his books attained best-seller status. The essays in this volume discuss aspects of his life and also of his work, which reflects the atmosphere and experiences typical of the last century."--Publisher's website.