Gerdt von Bassewitz

Gerdt Bernhard von Bassewitz-Hohenluckow was a lieutenant in the Prussian militia, a playwright, and an actor. He had his only great success with Peter and Anneli's Journey to the Moon (Peterchens Mondfahrt), which began as a successful stage play in 1912 in Leipzig and was published as a book in 1915.

It 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 became assistant stage director in Cologne. Eventually he moved to Berlin, where he made a living as a freelance writer.