Origins & Early Life

Karl Friedrich May ( MY, German: [kaʁl ˈmaɪ] ; 25 February 1842 – 30 March 1912) was a German author known for travel writing. His works, often in first-person narratives about travels and adventures, were mostly set in the American Old West or the Orient and Middle East, but also in Latin America, China and within Germany. For a time he insisted that he actually had travelled to the West and was called Old Shatterhand there, while in the Ottoman Empire he was called Kara Ben Nemsi, and posed in costumes. May is one of the best-selling German writers of all time, with about 200 million copies sold worldwide.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

A series of Karl May film adaptations was successful in the 1960s. May was the fifth child of a poor family of weavers in Ernstthal, Schönburgische Rezessherrschaften (then part of the Kingdom of Saxony). He had 13 siblings, of whom nine died in infancy. His parents were Heinrich August May and Wilhelmine Christiane Weise. During his school years, he received instruction in music and composition.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

At age twelve, May was making money at a skittle alley, where he was exposed to rough language. In 1856, May commenced teacher training in Waldenburg...

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• 1842 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1842
• February 25 (02-25) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 25
• 1912 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1912
• March 30 (03-30) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on March 30