 ludwig bemelmans (april 27, 1898 â october 1, 1962) was an austria-hungary-born american writer and illustrator of children's books and an internationally known gourmet. he is known best for the madeline picture books. six were published from 1939 to 1961; a seventh was discovered after his death and published posthumously in 1999. ==early life== bemelmans was born to the belgian painter lambert bemelmans and the german frances fischer in meran, austria-hungary (now italy). his father owned a hotel. he grew up in gmunden on the traunsee in upper austria. his first language was french and his second german. in 1904, his father left the family for ludwig's governess, after which his mother took ludwig and his brother to her native city of regensburg, germany. bemelmans had difficulty in school, as he hated the german style of discipline. he was apprenticed to his uncle hans bemelmans at a hotel in austria, where he reportedly shot and seriously wounded a waiter. given the choice between reform school and emigration to the united states, he chose the latter. ===in america=== he spent the next several years working at hotels and restaurants in the us. in 1917, he joined the u.s. army but was not sent to europe because of his german origin. he did become an officer, and was promoted to second lieutenant. he writes of his experiences in the army in the book, my war with the united states. in 1918, he became a us citizen. in the 1920s, bemelemans tried to become an artist and painter while working at hotels, but had substantial difficulties. his cartoon series the thrilling adventures of the count bric a brac was dropped from the new york world after six months. he associated with ervine metzl, a commercial artist and illustrator who is variously described as bemelmans' friend,{{cite book|author=ludwig bemelmans, madeleine bemelmans|title=tell them it was wonderful: selected writings|publisher=viking|year=1985|accessdate=2010-05-24|url=http://books.google.com/boo
1898_births 1962_deaths 20th-century_American_writers American_children\'s_writers Austrian_people_of_Belgian_descent Austro-Hungarian_emigrants_to_the_United_States Burials_at_Arlington_National_Cemetery Caldecott_Medal_winners Madeline Newbery_Honor_winners People_from_Merano Writers_who_illustrated_their_own_writing