Gerdt von BassewitzGerdt Bernhard von Bassewitz (1878-1923), having been a lieutenant in the Prussian militia, a playwright, and an actor, had his only great success with Peter and Anneli's Journey to the Moon (Peterchens Mondfahrt), which began asa 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. Read More Read Less