Max Tau

Max Tau (1897-1976) was one of the most influential figures in both German and Norwegian literary education. He paved the way for many, such as Nelly Sachs, Albert Schweitzer, Nikos Kazantzakis, Marie-Luise Kaschnitz, Wolfgang Koeppen - and for the reconciliation of Norway and Germany. His network was immense: Thomas Mann, Martin Buber, Erich Kästner. The fact that Nordic and especially Norwegian literature found its way into world literature via Germany was thanks to the young editor in Berlin at the publishing house Bruno Cassirer, his sense of values and his perseverance. In 1938 he had to flee to Oslo and from 1942 to 1945 to Stockholm, where he founded an exile publishing house. He was honoured many times and was the first to receive the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade.