Andreas Maier was born in 1967 in Bad Nauheim, in the area where he has chosen to set this tale. He now lives in the South Tyrol. He was awarded the Jürgen Ponto Prize for Literature this year. Wäldchestag is his debut novel. Translation rights available from Suhrkamp Verlag Lindenstrasse 29-35 D-60325 Frankfurt am Main Tel: +49 69 75 601 233 Fax: +49 69 74 62 64 Applications for assistance with translation costs - Germany Suhrkamp Verlag Peter Suhrkamp founded his publishing house in 1950 and was joined in 1952 by Dr. Siegfried Unseld. The group now includes Insel Verlag (founded in 1902 in Leipzig), Nomos-Verlag, Deutscher Klassiker Verlag (established in 1981) and the Jüdischer Verlag (founded in 1902). Suhrkamp focuses on both contemporary literature and the humanities. Its distinguished list includes leading writers from Germany, Switzerland and Austria, many of whom made their debuts with the firm, besides major international authors including four Nobel Prize winners.