Bruno Frank
A witty and principled German literary voice who used historical fiction to critique the rising tide of Nazism.
1887–1945 (age 58)·German writer·Birthday: June 13·The Lost Generation
Biography
Bruno Frank fled Germany in 1933 as a liberal humanist of Jewish descent, beginning an exile through Austria, England, Switzerland, and Hollywood. In Weimar Germany, he had been a polished novelist and playwright known for elegant prose and sharp character studies. From abroad, his writing became a weapon. He used the historical novel as allegory, crafting stories about Cervantes and Frederick the Great to explore tyranny, resistance, and artistic integrity—clear commentaries on the Nazi regime. In Hollywood, he contributed to anti-Nazi films. Frank's life demonstrated the intellectual's role in dissent, using narrative art to uphold humanist values against brute force.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Bruno was born in 1887, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bruno Was Born
The biggest hits of 1887
Bruno's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1887Born
President: Grover Cleveland
1892Started school
President: Benjamin Harrison
1900Became a teenager
Boxer Rebellion in China
President: William McKinley
1903Could drive
Wright brothers achieve first powered flight
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1905Could vote
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1908Turned 21
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1917Turned 30
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1927Turned 40
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1937Turned 50
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1945Died at 58
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
Key Achievements
- Wrote successful historical novels like 'Cervantes' and 'The Days of the King' that served as veiled critiques of totalitarianism.
- Had his plays and books banned and burned by the Nazi regime after he fled Germany in 1933.
- Worked as a screenwriter in Hollywood, contributing to films such as the anti-Nazi drama 'The Mortal Storm'.
- Maintained a prolific literary output in exile, including novels, short stories, and poetry.
Did You Know?
He was married to Elisabeth 'Liesl' Frank, the daughter of famed opera singer Fritzi Massary.
His close circle of friends in exile included other German writers like Thomas Mann and Lion Feuchtwanger.
He initially studied law and philosophy before fully committing to a writing career.
Frank's play 'Sturm im Wasserglas' was a major theatrical hit in pre-war Germany and was adapted into English as 'Storm in a Teacup'.
“A writer in exile carries two homelands: the lost one and the language.”
