Ernst Friedrich Löhndorff (13 March 1899 – 16 March 1976) was a German sailor, adventurer, and writer. He was born in Frankfurt am Main and died in Waldshut-Tiengen.
In 1913, at the age of 14, Löhndorff ran away from his home with the intent to become a sailor and get to know the world. He travelled the world as a sailor and adventurer until 1927. His first of over 30 novels, ('I, Beast, in Mexico'), was published in 1927. His novels were translated in a dozen languages and were quite popular until after the Second World War. His books were reprinted in 2017, published by Casssiopeia-XXX-press. His biography is available.Hubert Matt-Willmatt: ''Das Abenteuer im Leben und Werk von Ernst Friedrich Löhndorff (1899–1976).'' Schillinger Verlag, Freiburg 1999. (German biography online )
Biography
Childhood and youth
Löhndorff was the youngest child of the
merchant
A merchant is a person who trades in commodities produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries. Historically, a merchant is anyone who is involved in business or trade. Merchants have operated for as long as indust ...
Robert Löhndorff and his wife Paulina Augusta (). Born in Frankfurt on 13 March 1899, he was baptized on 27 August 1899. In 1902, his family moved to Vienna. His father was often absent due to business travels and later left the family. Consequently, Löhndorff practically grew up without a father.
Starting on 16 September 1905, Löhndorff attended the (elementary school) in Hietzing and later the public (secondary modern school). In 1912, he had to repeat the class due to excessive absence.Hubert Matt-Willmatt: ''Das Abenteuer im Leben und Werk von Ernst Friedrich Löhndorff (1899 - 1976).'' Schillinger Verlag, Freiburg 1999. pp 18 - 36.
Seamanship
In spring 1913, Löhndorff ran away from home to become a sailor. In Hamburg, he signed on to a Dutch sailing ship as
cabin boy
''Cabin Boy'' is a 1994 American fantasy comedy film, directed by Adam Resnick and co-produced by Tim Burton, which starred comedian Chris Elliott. Elliott co-wrote the film with Resnick. Both Elliott and Resnick worked for '' Late Night with Dav ...
. When he returned to the harbor of Delfzijl in the Netherlands from a journey to Finland and Russia, his father and local police were already expecting him.
After a discussion, Löhndorff's father agreed to let him pursue his a career as a sailor. He was hired on the four-masted barque ''
Thielbek
A number of steamships have carried the name ''Thielbek'', including:
*
*
Ship names
{{Short pages monitor Some of the crime novels he published under the pseudonym of ''Peter Dando'' were later republished under his real name.
* Bestie Ich in Mexiko (1927) Stuttgart: Dieck & Co.
* Satan Ozean: Von Schnapspiraten, Trampfahren und Walfängern (1930) Leipzig: Grethlein & Co.; Bremen: C. Schünemann
* Afrika weint: Tagebuch eines Legionärs (1930) Leipzig: Grethlein & Co.
* Amineh: Die zehntausend Gesichter Indiens (1931) Leipzig ; Zürich: Grethlein; Bremen: Schünemann
* Noahs Arche: Eine Saga von Mensch und Wal (1932) Leipzig ; Zürich: Grethlein; Bremen: Schünemann
* Blumenhölle am Jacinto: Urwalderlebnis (1932) Leipzig ; Zürich: Grethlein; Bremen: Schünemann
* Der Indio: Kampf und Ende eines Volkes (1933) Bremen: Schünemann
* Trommle, Piet!: Deutsche Landsknechte im Urwald (1934) Bremen: Schünemann
* Gold, Whisky und Frauen in Nordland (1935) Bremen: Schünemann
* Der Narr und die Mandelblüte (1935) Bremen: Schünemann
* Südwest-Nordost: Erlebnisschildergn (1936) Bremen: Schünemann
* Tropensymphonie (1936) Bremen: Schünemann
* Der Geheimnisvolle von Baden-Baden (1936) Bern ; Leipzig ; Wien: Goldmann (Goldmanns Roman-Bibliothek, Band 54); as ''Peter Dando''
* Seltsame Pfade auf 10 Grad Süd (1937) Bremen: Schünemann
* Bowery-Satan (1937) Bern ; Leipzig ; Wien: Goldmann (Goldmanns Roman-Bibliothek ; Band 69); as ''Peter Dando''
* Die Frau von Hawai (1938) Bremen: Schünemann
* Unheimliches China: Ein Reisebericht (1939) Bremen: Schünemann
* Die schwarze Witwe (1939) Dresden: Seyfert; as ''Peter Dando''
* Yangtsekiang: Ein Chinaroman (1940) Bremen: Schünemann
* Khaiberpaß (1941) Bremen: Schünemann
* Gloria und der Teddyboy: Amerik. Sittenbild (1943) Bremen: Schünemann
* Old Jamaica Rum (1949) Düsseldorf: Vier Falken Verl.
* Ultima Esperanza: Aufstieg und Ende des "Königs von Feuerland" (1950) Bremen: Schünemann
* Ägyptische Nächte (1952) Schloss Bleckede a.d. Elbe: Meissner
* Stimme aus der Wüste: Muhamed Ibn Abd'Allah Ibn Abd. el Mottalib Ibn Hadschim el Emin. (1953) Bremen: Schünemann
* Gelber Strom (1954) Bremen: Schünemann
* Wen die Götter streicheln: Indischer Tatsachenroman (1954) Berlin ; München: Weiss
* Schwarzer Hanf: Roman eines Rauschgiftes (1956) Bremen: Schünemann
* Der Weg nach Dien Bien Phu: Roman einer Kolonie (1957) Bremen: Schünemann
* Glück in Manila (1958) Berlin-Schöneberg: Weiss
* Sturm über Kenia (1960) Bremen: Schünemann
* Gelbe Hölle am Jangtsekiang (1965) Hannover: Fackelträger-Verl. Schmidt-Küster, (1979) Prisma Verlag 200 pp. ISBN 3570004473
* Der Vogel Cockaburra (1966) Hannover: Fackelträger-Verl.
Translations
Many of Löhndorffs novels were translated to—all in all—at least 12 different languages: Danish, English,
French
French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to France
** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents
** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...
Swedish
Swedish or ' may refer to:
Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically:
* Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland
** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...
, Czech, Hungarian.Hubert Matt-Willmatt: ''Das Abenteuer im Leben und Werk von Ernst Friedrich Löhndorff (1899–1976).'' Schillinger Verlag, Freiburg 1999. p 207. online )