1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites

German author Utta Danella dies

August 11, 2015

Her 43 novels have enchanted generations, selling more than 70 million books worldwide. According to her publishers, novelist Utta Danella died last month aged 95.

https://p.dw.com/p/1GDLC
Author Utta Danella. Copyright: picture-alliance/dpa/Heinz Browers.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Heinz Browers

In a statement from the Heyne publishing company, it's been revealed the famous German author died in Munich in early July. However, the news has only just been made public. The private funeral took place amongst immediate family, at the author's request.

According to her publishers, the writer penned no less than 43 novels - many of which went on to be adapted for television. Danella's debut novel "Alle Sterne vom Himmel" ("All the Stars from the Sky") proved a success when published in 1956, however it was her 1960 novel "Stella Termogen" which saw her achieve mainstream recognition and success.

Danella was born Utta Denneler in 1920 in Leipzig, and later lived in Munich. Her first publisher Franz Schneekluth encouraged her to adopt the pseudonym Danella.

The author also penned many short stories and works of non-fiction, and translated a number of works from English into German. She was awarded the First Class Federal Cross of Merit in 1999 for services to literature.

jgt/jil (epd/dpa)