Otfried Preußler, sometimes spelled as Otfried Preussler, was a celebrated German author best known for his enchanting children's books. Born as Otfried Syrowatka in Reichenberg, Checoslovaquia (now Liberec, Czech Republic), Preußler's lineage traces back to the 15th century in this region, deeply rooted in the glass industry. His parents were educators, instilling in him a profound appreciation for literature from an early age.

During World War II, Preußler was drafted into the Wehrmacht Heer in 1942. Despite the harrowing experiences of military action on the Eastern Front, he survived and was captured as a lieutenant at the age of 21. Preußler spent the next five years in various prisoner of war camps, a period that would later influence his storytelling.

Preußler's literary career is marked by an impressive footprint, with over 50 million copies of his books sold worldwide and translations into 55 languages. Among his most beloved works are The Robber Hotzenplotz and The Satanic Mill (Krabat). His exceptional contribution to children's literature was recognized with the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in 1972 for Krabat.