The World Is One Big Story and We all Play a Part

Book excerpt: Michael Ende (1929 – 1995) is one of the most well-known German writers in the world. In addition to his classic children's book Jim Button, the fairy tale Momo, and the fantasy cult classic The Neverending Story, he wrote lyrical picture books, books for adults, plays, poems, and essays. His books have been translated into more than 53 languages, with a combined total of over 35 million copies in print worldwide. Many of his books have been made into films and adapted for radio and television. In this novel, Charlotte Roth imagines Michael Ende the man and paints a wealth of images which come together to form the mosaic of his story. Michael Ende's life spans nearly a full century, from the Weimar Republic to the modern, united Europe, and makes for a captivating tale that will appeal to fans both old and new.