About
Arthur Koestler, born in Budapest in 1905, was a major 20th-century writer. After studying engineering in Vienna, he became a journalist and joined the Communist Party in 1931. His experience in the Spanish Civil War and his break with Stalinism fueled his work, notably his most famous novel, 'Darkness at Noon' (1940), a critique of the Moscow trials. He wrote over thirty books, blending fiction, autobiography, and scientific essays. He committed suicide in London in 1983 with his wife.
* 1905-09-05 — † 1983-03-01
Major works
- Darkness at Noon (1940)novel
- The Gladiators (1939)novel
- The Sleepwalkers (1959)essay
- The Act of Creation (1964)essay
- The Thirteenth Tribe (1976)essay
Key milestones
- 1931Joined the German Communist Party.
- 1937Imprisoned by Franco's forces during the Spanish Civil War.
- 1972Appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
Themes
TotalitarianismStalinismScience and creationAutobiographyEuthanasia
Sources: britannica.com · archives.collections.ed.ac.uk · oxfordreference.com