Benedict Wells
February 29, 1984
Benedict Wells (born Benedict von Schirach) is a German-Swiss novelist.
Wells grew up in Bavaria. At the age of six, he was sent to a state boarding school after his parents separated and had to deal with several problems. All of his school years were spent at boarding schools and homes. Following his graduation from high school in 2003, he decided not to go to university but instead moved to Berlin to pursue his writing. He made a living doing odd jobs, while his manuscripts were rejected by publishers and agencies for years.
His first novel Becks letzter Sommer (Beck's Last Summer) was published in 2008 and received widespread acclaim. It was described by Die Zeit as "the most interesting debut of the year" and was made into a film in 2015, starring Christian Ulmen. In the meantime, his third novel Fast genial (Almost Ingenious) had become a first bigger success in Germany.
Wells' books have been translated into 38 languages and have sold more than one million copies worldwide. He previously did not allow his books to be published as ebooks. Since 2018 his books are initially available as hardcover books and audiobooks, then only later as ebooks when the paperback edition is published. This system is intended to support bookshops.
(en.wikipedia.org)