Origins & Early Life

Felix Salten (German: [ˈzaltn̩]; born Siegmund Salzmann; 6 September 1869 – 8 October 1945) was an Austrian author and literary critic. His most famous work is Bambi, a Life in the Woods, which was adapted into an animated feature film, Bambi, by Walt Disney Productions in 1942. Salten was born Siegmund Salzmann on 6 September 1869 in Pest, Austria-Hungary. His father was Fülöp Salzmann, the telegraph office's clerk in Pest; his mother was Maria Singer.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He was the grandson of an Orthodox rabbi. When he was four weeks old, his family relocated to Vienna, as many Jews did after the Imperial government had granted full citizenship rights to Jews in 1867. As a teen, Felix changed his name to Salten in order to appear less Jewish, and considered converting to Catholicism due to the antisemitism he experienced from his Austrian neighbors and schoolmates. When his father went bankrupt, the sixteen-year-old Salten quit school and began working for an insurance agency. Salten then became part of the "Young Vienna" movement (Jung-Wien) and soon received work as a full-time art and theater critic for Vienna's press (Wiener Allgemeine Zeitung, Zeit).

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1900...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• André Gide — Contemporary (Born in 1869) (1869): Pioneering French author, Nobel laureate known for exploring selfhood and transgression.
• Booth Tarkington — Contemporary (Born in 1869) (1869): Pioneering American novelist celebrated for capturing the spirit of the Midwest.
• C. T. R. Wilson — Contemporary (Born in 1869) (1869): Pioneering meteorologist and physicist known for the invention of the cloud chamber.
• Anne Frank — Contemporary (Died in 1945) (1945): German-born diarist whose secret writings documented life in hiding during the Holocaust.
• Anne Murray — Contemporary (Born in 1945) (1945): Pioneering Canadian country and pop vocalist with a 40-year global career.
• Anton Webern — Contemporary (Died in 1945) (1945): Radical modernist composer of the Second Viennese School, known for atonal and twelve-tone techniques.
• Akira Kurosawa — Shared historical date (09-06 · Died) (1998): Master of Japanese cinema, known for dynamic style and epic storytelling.
• Anika Noni Rose — Shared historical date (09-06 · Born) (1972): Acclaimed American actress celebrated for Broadway triumphs and Disney voice roles.
• Anne-Marie Duff — Shared historical date (10-08 · Born) (1970): Acclaimed British actress known for roles in Shameless and The Virgin Queen.
• Bruno Mars — Shared historical date (10-08 · Born) (1985): Pop icon known for retro showmanship and versatile songwriting.
• 1869 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1869
• September 6 (09-06) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on September 6
• 1945 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1945
• October 8 (10-08) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on October 8