Walser, Martin (1927– )

German dramatist and novelist. Harsh and uncompromising in his social criticism, he concentrates on the newly rich German middle classes in such novels as Ehen in Philippsburg/Marriage in Philippsburg (1957), Das Einhorn/The Unicorn (1966), and Das Schwanenhaus/The Swan Villa (1980). Eiche und Angora/The Rabbit Race (1962) and Die Zimmerschlaft/Home Front (1967) are his best-known plays.

His autobiographical novel Ein springender Brunnen won the German publishing industry's Friedenspreis (Peace Prize) in 1998. His strong social views have led many critics to perceive him as anti-Semitic: his novel Tod eines Kritikers/Death of a Critic (2002) aroused particular controversy.