Peter and Anneli's Journey to the Moon
Gerdt Bernhard von Bassewitz(1878-1923), having been a lieutenant in the Prussian militia, a playwright, and an actor, had his only great success withPeter and Anneli's Journey to the Moon (Peterchens Mondfahrt),which began as a successful stage play in 1912 in Leipzig and was issued as a book in 1915. It quickly became one of the best-loved German children's books and has been a bestseller in Germany to this day. After his success, von Bassewitz went on to become an assistant stage director in Cologne. Eventually he moved to Berlin, where he lived as a freelance writer.Hans Baluschek(1870-1935) is, in fact, much better known than the author ofPeter and Anneli's Journey to the Moon.A painter and graphic artist, he was a member of the Berlin Secession Movement with Max Liebermann and Käthe Kollwitz. As a socialist, he designed many posters and postcards, as well as being a respected painter. He was denounced by the Nazis as a "degenerate artist."Marianne H. Luedekinglives in Florida.Peter and Anneli's Journey to the Moonwas one of her favorite childhood books.