Jenny Erpenbeck is a renowned German writer and opera director. Born into a family deeply entrenched in the literary and scientific worlds, Erpenbeck is the daughter of physicist, philosopher, and writer John Erpenbeck and Arabic translator Doris Kilias. Her grandparents, Fritz Erpenbeck and Hedda Zinner, were also established authors, ensuring a rich cultural and intellectual upbringing.

Erpenbeck's academic journey began in Berlin, where she graduated from an Advanced High School in 1985. She honed her craft through a two-year apprenticeship as a bookbinder, subsequently engaging with the theatrical world as a props and wardrobe supervisor. Her pursuit of the arts led her to study theatre at Humboldt University of Berlin from 1988 to 1990. Later, she shifted her focus to Music Theater Direction at the Hanns Eisler Music Conservatory, studying under esteemed figures such as Ruth Berghaus, Heiner Müller, and Peter Konwitschny.

Erpenbeck's literary works have garnered critical acclaim, including the prestigious Independent Foreign Fiction Prize. Her deep engagement with opera and theater, combined with her literary lineage, have uniquely shaped her narrative voice and approach to storytelling.