Sudermann, Hermann (1857–1928)

German playwright and novelist. After a short spell of journalism in 1881–82 he began writing novels in the Maupassant style. But it was as a dramatist that he won most of his popularity; his naturalistic plays, notably Heimat (1892), were highly successful. His later plays were critical and commercial failures, and made him return to prose-writing. Sudermann was born in Matziken, East Prussia. He began his career as a chemist's apprentice but received further education at Konigsberg University and later taught in Berlin.