List of German-language authors
See also: List of German-language philosophers, List of German-language playwrights and List of German-language poets
This list contains the names of persons (of any ethnicity or nationality) who wrote fiction, essays, or plays in the German language. It includes both living and deceased writers.
Most of the medieval authors are alphabetized by their first name, not by their sobriquet.
Editors familiar with contemporary German literature are particularly invited to contribute their input. If you add a name to the list, please also create an article for it.
A
- Thomas Abbt (1738–1766)
- Johann Christoph Adelung (1732–1806)
- Rudolf Agricola (1494–1566)
- Ilse Aichinger (born 1921)
- Hermann Allmers (1821–1902)
- Peter Altenberg (1859–1919)
- Jean Améry (1912–1978)
- Alfred Andersch (1914–1980)
- Lou Andreas-Salomé (1861–1937)
- Stefan Andres (1906–1970)
- Ernst Angel (1895–1986)
- Angelus Silesius, actually Johann Scheffler (1624–1677)
- Ludwig Anzengruber (1839–1889)
- Johann August Apel (1771–1816)
- Ernst Moritz Arndt (1769–1860)
- Achim von Arnim (1781–1831)
- Bettina von Arnim (1785–1859)
- Gottfried Arnold (1666–1714)
- Hans Arp (1887–1966)
- Hans Carl Artmann (1921–2000)
- Raoul Auernheimer (1876–1948)
- Rose Ausländer (1901–1988)
B
- Ingeborg Bachmann (1926–1973)
- Hugo Ball (1886–1927)
- Zsuzsa Bánk (born 1965)
- Ernst Barlach (1870–1938)
- Adolf Bartels (1862–1945)
- Johann Bernhard Basedow (1723–1790)
- Vicki Baum (1888–1960)
- Johannes R. Becher (1891–1958)
- Jurek Becker (1937–1997)
- Michael Beheim (1416 – c. 1474)
- Albrecht Behmel (born 1971)
- Hans Bender (born 1919)
- Walter Benjamin (1892–1940)
- Gottfried Benn (1886–1956)
- Werner Bergengruen (1892–1964)
- Thomas Bernhard (1931–1989)
- August Ferdinand Bernhardi (1769–1820)
- Peter Bichsel (born 1935)
- Jakob Bidermann (1578–1639)
- Wolf Biermann (born 1936)
- Johannes Bobrowski (1917–1965)
- Johann Jakob Bodmer (1698–1783)
- Jakob Böhme (1575–1624)
- Margarete Böhme (1867–1939)
- Heinrich Böll (1917–1985)
- Wolfgang Borchert (1921–1947)
- Nicolas Born (1937–1979)
- Ludwig Börne (1786–1837)
- Bas Böttcher (born 1974)
- Mark Brandis (1931–2000)
- Sebastian Brant (1457–1521)
- Axel Brauns (born 1963)
- Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956)
- Willi Bredel (1901–1964)
- Clemens Brentano (1778–1842)
- Rolf Dieter Brinkmann (1940–1975)
- Hermann Broch (1886–1951)
- Barthold Heinrich Brockes (1680–1747)
- Georg Büchner (1813–1837)
- Hermann Burger (1942–1989)
- Gottfried August Bürger (1747–1794)
- Christine Busta, actually Christine Dimt (1915–1987)
C
- Joachim Heinrich Campe (1746–1818)
- Elias Canetti (1905–1994)
- Hans Carossa (1878–1956)
- Ignaz Franz Castelli, pseudonym Bruder Fatalis (1781–1862)
- Elisabeth Castonier (1894–1975)
- Paul Celan, actually Paul Antschel (1920–1970)
- Conrad Celtis (1459–1508)
- C. W. Ceram, actually Kurt W. Marek (1915–1972)
- Adelbert von Chamisso (1781–1838)
- Helene Christaller (1872–1953)
- Hanns Cibulka (1920–2004)
- Oscar Walter Cisek (1897–1966)
- Matthias Claudius (1740–1815)
- Heinrich Joseph von Collin (1772–1811)
- Hedwig Courths-Mahler (1867–1950)
- Wolf-Ulrich Cropp (born 1941)
- Alfons von Czibulka (1888–1969)
D
- Simon Dach (1605–1659)
- Felix Dahn (1834–1912)
- Erich von Däniken (born 1935)
- Jason Dark (born 1945)
- Clark Darlton, actually Walter Ernsting (1920–2005)
- Max Dauthendey (1867–1918)
- Henriette Davidis (1801–1876)
- Franz Josef Degenhardt (born 1931)
- Richard Dehmel (1863–1920)
- Michael Denis (1729–1800)
- Lorenz Diefenbach (1806–1883)
- Dietmar von Aist (1140–1171)
- Franz von Dingelstedt (1814–1881)
- Artur Dinter (1876–1948)
- Alfred Döblin (1878–1957)
- Heimito von Doderer (1896–1966)
- Hilde Domin, actually Hilde Palm (1909–2006)
- Hans Dominik (1872–1945)
- Marion Dönhoff (1909–2002)
- Doris Dörrie (born 1955)
- Tankred Dorst (born 1925)
- Annette von Droste-Hülshoff (1797–1848)
- Slatan Dudow (1903–1963)
- Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921–1990)
- Karen Duve (born 1961)
E
- Johann Eberlin von Günzburg (c. 1470–1533)
- Georg Ebers (1837–1898)
- Karl Egon Ebert (1801–1882)
- Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830–1916)
- Dietrich Eckart (1868–1923)
- Johann Peter Eckermann (1792–1854)
- Meister Eckhart (c. 1260 – c. 1328)
- Ernst Eckstein (1845–1900)
- Werner Eggerath (1900–1977)
- Werner Egk (1901–1983)
- Albert Ehrenstein (1886–1950)
- Günter Eich (1907–1972)
- Joseph Freiherr von Eichendorff (1788–1857)
- Ludwig Eichrodt (1827–1892)
- Carl Einstein (1885–1940)
- Siegfried Einstein (1919–1983)
- Michael Ende (1929–1995)
- Johann Jakob Engel (1741–1802)
- Hans Magnus Enzensberger (born 1929)
- Gustav Ernst (born 1944)
- Paul Ernst (1866–1933)
- Ernst Eschmann (1886–1953)
- Ernst Wilhelm Eschmann (1904–1987)
- Richard Euringer (1891–1953)
- Hanns Heinz Ewers (1871–1943)
F
- Ludwig Fahrenkrog (1867–1952)
- Johannes Daniel Falk (1768–1826)
- Hans Fallada, actually Rudolf Ditzen (1893–1947)
- Rainer Werner Fassbinder (1945–1982)
- Jörg Fauser (1944–1987)
- Gustav Theodor Fechner, pseudonym Dr. Mises (1801–1887)
- Else Feldmann (1884–1942)
- Kurt Feltz, pseudonym Johnny Bartels (1910–1982)
- Lion Feuchtwanger (1884–1958)
- Johann Fischart (1546–1590)
- Sebastian Fitzek (born 1971)
- Konrad Fleck (13th century)
- Marieluise Fleißer, actually Marieluise Haindl (1901–1974)
- Paul Fleming (1609–1640)
- Walter Flex (1887–1917)
- Gorch Fock, pseudonyms Jakob Holst and Giorgio Focco (1880–1916)
- Hans Folz (c. 1437–1513)
- Theodor Fontane (1819–1898)
- Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué (1777–1843)
- Hans Franck (1879–1964)
- Julia Franck (born 1970)
- Sebastian Franck (1499 – c. 1543)
- Bruno Frank (1887–1945)
- Leonhard Frank (1882–1961)
- Ludwig August Frankl (1810–1894)
- Franzobel, actually Franz Stefan Griebl (born 1967)
- Karl Emil Franzos (1848–1904)
- Frauenlob, actually Heinrich von Meißen (1250/60–1318)
- Ferdinand Freiligrath (1810–1876)
- Gustav Frenssen (1863–1945)
- Gustav Freytag (1816–1895)
- Alfred Hermann Fried (1864–1921)
- Erich Fried (1921–1988)
- Egon Friedell, actually Egon Friedmann (1878–1938)
- Max Frisch (1911–1991)
- Abraham Emanuel Fröhlich (1796–1865)
- Ludwig Fulda, actually Ludwig Anton Salomon (1862–1939)
- Cornelia Funke (born 1958)
G
- Philipp Galen, actually Philipp Lange (1813–1899)
- Ludwig Ganghofer (1855–1920)
- Peter Gast (1854–1918)
- Emanuel Geibel (1815–1884)
- Arno Geiger (born 1968)
- Christian Fürchtegott Gellert (1715–1769)
- Wilhelm Genazino (born 1943)
- Stefan George (1868–1933)
- Paul Gerhardt (1602–1676)
- Robert Gernhardt (1937–2006)
- Friedrich Gerstäcker (1816–1872)
- Heinrich Wilhelm von Gerstenberg (1737–1823)
- Kerstin Gier (born 1966)
- Johannes Gilhoff (1861–1930)
- Franz Karl Ginzkey (1871–1963)
- Johann Rudolph Glauber (1604–1670)
- Friedrich Glauser (1896–1938)
- Johann Wilhelm Ludwig Gleim (1719–1803)
- Albrecht Goes (1908–2000)
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832)
- Rainald Goetz (born 1954)
- Melchior Goldast (1578–1635)
- Claire Goll (1891–1977)
- Yvan Goll (1891–1950)
- Bogumil Goltz (1801–1870)
- Friedrich Wilhelm Gotter (1746–1797)
- Gottfried von Straßburg (died c. 1210)
- Jeremias Gotthelf, actually Albert Bitzius (1797–1854)
- Johann Christoph Gottsched (1700–1766)
- Johann Nikolaus Götz (1721–1781)
- Christian Dietrich Grabbe (1801–1836)
- Oskar Maria Graf (1894–1967)
- Günter Grass (born 1927)
- Ferdinand Gregorovius (1821–1891)
- Felix Paul Greve (1879–1948)
- Friedrich Griese (1890–1975)
- Franz Stephan Griese (1889–?)
- Franz Grillparzer (1791–1872)
- Jacob Grimm (1785–1863)
- Wilhelm Grimm (1786–1859)
- Matthias T. J. Grimme (born 1953)
- Hans Jakob Christoffel von Grimmelshausen (1621–1676)
- Hans Gross (1893–1981)
- Klaus Groth (1819–1899)
- Anastasius Grün, actually Anton Alexander Graf von Auersperg (1806–1876)
- Andreas Gryphius (1616–1664)
- Martin Grzimek (born 1950)
- Martin Gumpert (1897–1955)
- Johann Christian Günther (1659–1723)
- Albert Paris Gütersloh, actually Albert Conrad Kiehtreiber (1887–1973)
- Karl Gutzkow (1811–1878)
H
- Friedrich Wilhelm Hackländer (1816–1877)
- Erich Hackl (born 1954)
- Peter Hacks (1928–2003)
- Sebastian Haffner (1907–1999)
- Friedrich von Hagedorn (1708–1754)
- Albrecht von Haller (1708–1777)
- Friedrich Halm, actually Eligius von Münch-Bellinghausen (1806–1871)
- Johann Georg Hamann (1730–1788)
- Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall (1774–1856)
- Peter Handke (born 1942)
- Ferdinand Hanusch (1866–1923)
- Thea von Harbou (1888–1954)
- Ernst Hardt, actually Ernst Stöckhardt (1876–1947)
- Georg Philipp Harsdörffer (1607–1658)
- Otto Erich Hartleben (1864–1905)
- Peter Härtling (born 1933)
- Moritz Hartmann (1821–1872)
- Petra Hartmann (born 1970)
- Hartmann von Aue (c. 1170 – c. 1220)
- Walter Hasenclever (1890–1940)
- Wilhelm Hasenclever (1837–1889)
- Wilhelm Hauff (1802–1827)
- Eberhard Werner Happel (1647–1690)
- Gerhart Hauptmann (1862–1946)
- Richard Hauptmann (1908–1970)
- Otto Hauser (1876–1944)
- Albrecht Haushofer (1903–1945)
- Marlen Haushofer (1920–1970)
- Raoul Hausmann (1886–1971)
- Adolf Hausrath, pseudonym George Taylor (1837–1909)
- Julius Hay (1900–1975)
- Friedrich Hebbel (1813–1863)
- Johann Peter Hebel (1760–1826)
- Friedrich Heer (1916–1983)
- Heinrich Heine (1797–1856)
- Helme Heine (born 1941)
- Willi Heinrich (1920–2005)
- Heinrich von Morungen (c. 1200–1222)
- Heinrich von Mügeln (c. 1319 – c. 1380)
- Heinrich von Veldeke (c. 1150–1190/1200)
- Helmut Heißenbüttel (1921–1996)
- Kurt Held, actually Kurt Kläber (1897–1959)
- Kerstin Hensel (born 1961)
- Luise Hensel (1798–1876)
- Wilhelm Herchenbach (1818–1889)
- Johann Gottfried Herder (1744–1803)
- Judith Hermann (born 1970)
- Stephan Hermlin (1915–1997)
- Georg Herwegh (1817–1875)
- Theodor Herzl (1860–1904)
- Wilhelm Herzog (1884–1960)
- Hermann Hesse (1877–1962)
- Helius Eobanus Hessus, actually Eoban Koch (1488–1540)
- Georg Heym (1887–1912)
- Stefan Heym, actually Hellmuth Flieg (1913–2001)
- Paul Heyse (1830–1914)
- Wolfgang Hilbig (1941–2007)
- Wolfgang Hildesheimer (1916–1991)
- Kurt Hiller (1885–1972)
- Theodor Gottlieb von Hippel (1741–1796)
- Rolf Hochhuth (born 1931)
- Fritz Hochwälder (1911–1986)
- Jakob van Hoddis, actually Hans Davidsohn (1887–1942)
- E. T. A. Hoffmann (1776–1822)
- Heinrich Hoffmann (1809–1894)
- August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798–1874)
- Gert Hofmann (1931–1993)
- Hugo von Hofmannsthal (1874–1929)
- Robert Hohlbaum (1886–1955)
- Franz Hohler (born 1943)
- Friedrich Hölderlin (1770–1843)
- Karl von Holtei (1798–1880)
- Hans Egon Holthusen (1913–1997)
- Arno Holz (1863–1929)
- Ludwig Heinrich Christoph Hölty (1748–1776)
- Barbara Honigmann (born 1949)
- Hans von Hopfen, actually Hans Mayer (1835–1904)
- Ödön von Horvath (1901–1938)
- Hrabanus Maurus (c. 780 – 856)
- Ricarda Huch (1864–1947)
- Peter Huchel (1903–1981)
- Norbert Hummelt (born 1962)
- Christian Friedrich Hunold (1681–1721)
- Thomas Hürlimann (born 1950)
- Hanns Dieter Hüsch (1925–2005)
- Ulrich von Hutten (1488–1523)
I
- August Wilhelm Iffland (1759–1814)
J
- Heinrich Eduard Jacob (1889–1967)
- Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi (1743–1819)
- Johann Georg Jacobi (1740–1814)
- Ernst Jandl (1925–2000)
- Jans der Enikel
- Tommy Jaud (born 1970)
- Jean Paul (Johann Paul Friedrich Richter) (1763–1825)
- Elfriede Jelinek (born 1946)
- Walter Jens (born 1923)
- Wilhelm Jensen (1837–1911)
- Johannes von Tepl (c. 1350 – c. 1415)
- Albrecht von Johansdorf (c. 1185 – c. 1209)
- Uwe Johnson (1934–1984)
- Hanns Johst (1890–1978)
- Ernst Jünger (1895–1998)
- Peter Stephan Jungk (born 1952)
- Robert Jungk (1913–1994)
- Johann Heinrich Jung-Stilling, actually Johann Heinrich Jung (1740–1817)
K
- Franz Kafka (1883–1924)
- Friedrich Kaiser (1814–1874)
- Georg Kaiser (1878–1945)
- Max Kalbeck (1850–1921)
- Mascha Kaléko (1907–1975)
- David Kalisch (1820–1872)
- Wladimir Kaminer (born 1967)
- Hermann Kant (born 1926)
- Immanuel Kant (1724–1804)
- Franz Xaver Kappus (1883–1966)
- Hellmuth Karasek (born 1934)
- Ulrich Karger (born 1957)
- Marie Luise Kaschnitz (1901–1974)
- Abraham Gotthelf Kästner (1719–1800)
- Erich Kästner (1899–1974)
- Leo Katz (1892–1954)
- Walter Kaufmann (born 1924)
- Helmut Käutner (1908–1980)
- Daniel Kehlmann (born 1975)
- Gottfried Keller (1819–1890)
- Hans Peter Keller (born 1915)
- Werner Keller (born 1930)
- Friedrich Kellner (1885–1970)
- Walter Kempowski (1929–2007)
- Johannes Kepler (1571–1630)
- Justinus Kerner (1786–1862)
- Alfred Kerr, actually Alfred Kempner (1867–1948)
- Judith Kerr (born 1923)
- Irmgard Keun (1905–1982)
- Eduard von Keyserling (1855–1918)
- Johann Gottfried Kinkel (1815–1882)
- Heinar Kipphardt (1922–1982)
- Sarah Kirsch (born 1935)
- Hans Hellmut Kirst (1914–1989)
- Egon Erwin Kisch (1885–1948)
- Karin Kiwus (born 1942)
- Johann Klaj (1616–1656)
- Ewald Christian von Kleist (1715–1759)
- Heinrich von Kleist (1777–1811)
- Jochen Klepper (1903–1942)
- Ernst August Friedrich Klingemann (1777–1831)
- Friedrich Maximilian Klinger (1752–1831)
- Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock (1724–1803)
- Alexander Kluge (born 1932)
- Ruth Klüger (born 1931)
- Hildegard Knef (1925–2002)
- Werner Koch (1926–1992)
- Matthias Koeppel (born 1937)
- Wolfgang Koeppen (1906–1996)
- Edlef Köppen (1893–1939)
- Gerhard Kofler (1949–2005)
- Michael Köhlmeier (born 1949)
- Oskar Kokoschka (1886–1980)
- Gertrud Kolmar (1894–1943)
- Leopold Kompert (1822–1886)
- Konrad von Würzburg (c. 1220–1287)
- Heinz G. Konsalik, actually Heinz Günther (1921–1999)
- August Kopisch (1799–1853)
- Paul Kornfeld (1889–1942)
- August von Kotzebue (1761–1819)
- Christian Kracht (born 1966)
- Robert Kraft (1869–1916)
- Karl Kraus (1874–1936)
- Helmut Krausser (born 1964)
- Franz Xaver Kroetz (born 1946)
- Friedrich Adolf Krummacher (1767–1845)
- Max Kruse (born 1921)
- James Krüss (1926–1997)
- Alfred Kubin (1877–1959)
- Adam Kuckhoff (1887–1943)
- Johannes Kuen (1606–1675)
- Franz Theodor Kugler (1808–1858)
- Johann Kuhnau (1660–1722)
- Michael Kumpfmüller (born 1961)
- Johann Kunckel (1630–1703)
- Thor Kunkel (born 1963)
- Reiner Kunze (born 1933)
- Elisar von Kupffer (1872–1942)
- Hermann Kurz (1813–1873)
- Isolde Kurz (1853–1944)
- Kurt Kusenberg (1904–1983)
L
- Gustav Landauer (1870–1919)
- Karl Heinrich Lang (1764–1835)
- Carl Lange (1885–1959)
- Friedrich Lange (1898–1976)
- Katja Lange-Müller (born 1951)
- Elisabeth Langgässer, actually E. L. Hoffmann (1899–1950)
- Sophie von La Roche (1731–1807)
- Else Lasker-Schüler (1869–1945)
- Kurd Laßwitz (1848–1910)
- Heinrich Laube (1806–1884)
- Josef Lauff (1855–1933)
- Christine Lavant (1915–1973)
- Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801)
- Richard Leander, actually Richard von Volkmann (1830–1889)
- Benjamin Lebert (born 1982)
- Gertrud von Le Fort (1876–1971)
- Nikolaus Lenau (1802–1850)
- Ellen Lenneck, pseudonym for Helene Weichardt (1851–1880).
- Michael Lentz (born 1964)
- Jakob Michael Reinhold Lenz (1751–1792)
- Siegfried Lenz (born 1926)
- Paul Leppin (1879–1945)
- Alexander Lernet-Holenia (1897–1976)
- Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729–1781)
- Reinhard Lettau (1929–1996)
- Rahel Levin (1771–1833)
- Fanny Lewald (1811–1889)
- Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (1742–1799)
- Herbert Lichtenfeld (1927–2001)
- Alfred Lichtenstein (1889–1914)
- Heinz Liepmann (1905–1966)
- Detlev von Liliencron (1844–1909)
- Paul Lindau (1839–1919)
- Erich Loest (1926–2013)
- Friedrich von Logau (1604–1655)
- Daniel Casper von Lohenstein (1635–1683)
- Hermann Löns (1866–1914)
- Jakob Lorber (1800–1864)
- Rudolf Lorenzen (born 1922)
- Hieronymus Lorm, actually Heinrich Landesmann (1821–1902)
- Ernst Lothar, actually Ernst Lothar Müller (1890–1974)
- Rudolf Lothar (1865–1933)
- Emil Ludwig, actually Emil Cohn (1881–1948)
- Otto Ludwig (1813–1865)
- Martin Luther (1483–1546)
M
- Paul Maar (born 1937)
- John Henry Mackay (1864–1933)
- Josef Mahlmeister (born 1959)
- Andreas Mand (born 1959)
- Erika Mann (1905–1969)
- Golo Mann (1909–1994)
- Heinrich Mann (1871–1950)
- Klaus Mann (1906–1949)
- Thomas Mann (1875–1955)
- Hans Marchwitza (1890–1965)
- Giwi Margwelaschwili (born 1927)
- Karl von Marinelli (1745–1803)
- Monika Maron (born 1941)
- Friedrich von Matthisson (1761–1831)
- Fritz Mauthner (1849–1923)
- Karl May (1842–1912)
- Marius von Mayenburg (born 1972)
- Hans Mayer (1907–2001)
- Mechthild of Magdeburg (1210 – c. 1285)
- Christoph Meckel (born 1935)
- Selma Meerbaum-Eisinger (1924–1942)
- Walter Mehring (1896–1981)
- Wilhelm Meinhold (1797–1851)
- Paul Melissus, actually Schede (1539–1602)
- Robert Menasse (born 1954)
- Eva Menasse (born 1970)
- Moses Mendelssohn (1729–1786)
- Wolfgang Menzel (1798–1873)
- Pascal Mercier (born 1944)
- Johann Heinrich Merck (1741–1791)
- Sophie Mereau (1770–1806)
- Conrad Ferdinand Meyer (1825–1898)
- Melchior Meyr (1810–1872)
- Gustav Meyrink, actually Gustav Meyer (1868–1932)
- Agnes Miegel (1879–1964)
- Jo Mihaly (1902–1989)
- Waltraud Anna Mitgutsch (born 1948)
- Georg Mohr (1870–1928)
- Paul Möhring (1890–1976)
- Walter von Molo (1880–1958)
- Christian Morgenstern (1871–1914)
- Irmtraud Morgner (1933–1990)
- Daniel Georg Morhof (1639–1691)
- Eduard Mörike (1804–1875)
- Karl Philipp Moritz (1756–1793)
- Johann Michael Moscherosch (1601–1669)
- Julius Mosen, actually Julius Moses (1803–1867)
- Johann Joseph Most (1846–1906)
- Hans Much (1880–1932)
- Erich Mühsam (1878–1934)
- Adam Heinrich Müller (1779–1829)
- Friedrich Müller (called Maler Müller) (1749–1825)
- Heiner Müller (1929–1995)
- Herta Müller (born 1953)
- Inge Müller (1925–1966)
- Wilhelm Müller (called Griechen-Müller) (1794–1827)
- Wolfgang Müller von Königswinter (1816–1873)
- Theodor Mundt (1808–1861)
- Thomas Murner (1475–1536)
- Johann Karl August Musäus (1735–1787)
- Adolf Muschg (born 1934)
- Robert Musil (1880–1942)
- Christlob Mylius (1722–1754)
N
- Herbert Nachbar (1930–1980)
- Neidhart von Reuenthal (c. 1190 – c. 1245)
- Johann Nestroy (1802–1862)
- Alfred Neumann (1895–1952)
- Karl Neumann (1916–1985)
- Robert Neumann (1927–1977)
- Eckhart Nickel (born 1966)
- Friedrich Nicolai (1733–1811)
- Ernst Niebergall (1815–1843)
- Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
- Dieter Noll 1927–2008
- Ingrid Noll (born 1935)
- Christine Nöstlinger (born 1936)
- Helga M. Novak (born 1935)
- Novalis, actually Friedrich von Hardenberg (1772–1801)
O
- Martin Opitz (1597–1639)
- Ernst Ortlepp (1800–1864)
- Andreas Osiander (1496–1552)
- Carl von Ossietzky (1889–1938)
- Oswald von Wolkenstein (1377–1445)
- Otfrid von Weißenburg (c. 800–after 870)
- Emine Sevgi Özdamar (born 1946)
P
- Oskar Panizza (1853–1921)
- Harald Parigger (born 1953)
- Jean Paul, actually Johann Paul Friedrich Richter (1763–1825)
- Erica Pedretti (born 1930)
- Annette Pehnt (born 1967)
- Ulrich Peltzer (born 1956)
- Ernst Penzoldt (1892–1955)
- Leo Perutz (1882–1957)
- Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi (1746–1827)
- Jan Petersen, actually Hans Schwalm (1906–1969)
- Julius Petri (1868–1894)
- Ludwig Pfau (1821–1894)
- Karl Philberth (born 1929)
- Karoline Pichler (1769–1843)
- Heinz Piontek (1925–2003)
- Willibald Pirckheimer (1470–1530)
- August Graf von Platen, actually August von Platen-Hallermünde (1796–1835)
- Ulrich Plenzdorf (born 1934)
- Luise von Ploennies (1803–1872)
- Johannes Praetorius, actually Hans Schulz (1630–1680)
- Paula von Preradović (1887–1951)
- Otfried Preußler (1923-2013)
- Robert Prutz (1816–1872)
- Stanisław Przybyszewski (1868–1927)
- Hermann von Pückler-Muskau (1785–1871)
R
- Julye Rabinowich (born 1970)
- Wilhelm Raabe (1831–1910)
- Rabanus Maurus (c. 780 – 856), also Rhabanus or Hrabanus
- Gottlieb Wilhelm Rabener (1714–1771)
- Wilhelm Rath (1897-1973)
- Ferdinand Raimund (1790–1836)
- Karl Wilhelm Ramler (1725–1798)
- Christoph Ransmayr (born 1954)
- Lutz Rathenow (born 1952)
- Wolfgang Ratke (1571–1635)
- Sven Regener (born 1961)
- Ruth Rehmann (born 1922)
- Marcel Reich-Ranicki (born 1920)
- Uwe Reimer (1948–2004)
- Herbert Reinecker (born 1914)
- Reinmar von Hagenau (c. 1160/70–bef. 1210)
- Reinmar von Zweter (c. 1225 – c. 1250)
- Ludwig Rellstab (1799–1860)
- Erich Maria Remarque, actually Erich Paul Remark (1898–1970)
- Joscha Remus (born 1958)
- Lothar Rendulic (1897–1971)
- Sir John Retcliffe, actually Hermann Goedsche (1815–1878)
- Johannes Reuchlin (1455–1522)
- Fritz Reuter (1810–1874)
- Hans Richter (1889–1940)
- Hans Peter Richter (1926–1993)
- Hans Werner Richter (1908–1993)
- Frieda von Richthofen (1879–1956)
- Brigitte Riebe (born 1953)
- Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926)
- Joachim Ringelnatz (1883–1934)
- Louise Rinser (1911–2002)
- Heinz Risse (1898–1989)
- Johann Rist (1607–1667)
- Robert Roberthin (1600-1648)
- Charlotte Roche (born 1978)
- Alexander Roda Roda, actually Sandór Friedrich Rosenfeld (1872–1945)
- Peter Rosegger, actually Roßegger (1843–1918)
- Peter Rosei (born 1946)
- Ernst Rosmer, actually Elsa Bernstein (1866–1949)
- Johann Leonhard Rost (1688–1727)
- Eugen Roth (1895–1976)
- Friedrich Roth (1897–1970)
- Friederike Roth (born 1948)
- Gerhard Roth (born 1942)
- Joseph Roth (1894–1939)
- Patrick Roth (born 1953)
- Richard Roth (1835–1915)
- Stephan Ludwig Roth (1796–1849)
- Toni Rothmund (1877–1956)
- Ludwig Rubiner (1881–1920)
- Friedrich Rückert (1788–1866)
- Rudolf von Ems (c. 1200 – c. 1253)
- Rudolf von Fenis (died bef. 1196)
S
- Ferdinand von Saar (1833–1906)
- Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (1836–1895)
- Hans Sachs (1494–1576)
- Nelly Sachs (1891–1970)
- Ernst von Salomon (1902–1972)
- Felix Salten, actually Siegmund Salzmann (1869–1945)
- Christian Gotthilf Salzmann (1744–1811)
- Adolf Friedrich von Schack (1815–1894)
- Jakob Schaffner (1875–1944)
- Paul Schallück (1922–1976)
- Rafik Schami (born 1946)
- Paul Scheerbart (1863–1915)
- Leopold Schefer (1784–1862)
- Joseph Victor von Scheffel (1826–1886)
- Johann Hermann Schein (1586–1630)
- Johannes Scherr (1817–1886)
- Emanuel Schikaneder (1751–1812)
- Friedrich Schiller (1759–1805)
- Roland Schimmelpfennig (born 1967)
- Baldur von Schirach (1907–1974)
- Johannes Schlaf (1862–1941)
- August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767–1845)
- Friedrich Schlegel (1772–1829)
- Johann Elias Schlegel (1719–1749)
- Bernhard Schlink (born 1944)
- Arno Schmidt (1914–1979)
- Michael Schmidt-Salomon (born 1967)
- Elke Schmitter (born 1961)
- Max Schneckenburger (1819–1849)
- Louis Schneider (1805–1878)
- Reinhold Schneider (1903–1958)
- Robert Schneider (born 1961)
- Arthur Schnitzler (1862–1931)
- Wolfdietrich Schnurre (1920–1989)
- Johanna Schopenhauer (1766–1838)
- Friedrich Ludwig Schröder (1744–1816)
- Rainer M. Schröder (born 1951)
- Christian Friedrich Daniel Schubart (1739–1791)
- Levin Schücking (1814–1883)
- Tony Schumacher (1848–1931)
- Gustav Schwab (1792–1850)
- Werner Schwab (1958–1994)
- Achim Schwarze (born 1958)
- Alice Schwarzer (born 1942)
- Franz Schuh (born 1947)
- Kurt Schwitters (1887–1948)
- Charles Sealsfield, actually Karl Anton Postl (1793–1864)
- W. G. Sebald (1944–2001)
- Anna Seghers, actually Netty Radvanyi (1900–1983)
- Franz Seldte (1882–1947)
- Gerd Semmer (1919–1967)
- Walter Serner (1889–1942)
- Johann Gottfried Seume (1763–1810)
- Heinrich Seuse (c. 1300–1366)
- Friedrich Sieburg (1893–1964)
- Johannes Mario Simmel (born 1924)
- Karl Simrock (1802–1876)
- Curt Siodmak (1902–2000)
- Johann Sithmann (1602 - 1666)
- Angela Sommer-Bodenburg (born 1948)
- Joseph von Sonnenfels (1733–1817)
- Jura Soyfer (1912–1939)
- Manès Sperber (1905–1984)
- Hilde Spiel (1911–1990)
- Friedrich Spielhagen (1829–1911)
- Carl Spitteler (1845–1924)
- Johanna Spyri (1827–1901)
- Arnold Stadler (born 1954)
- Albert Steffen (1884–1963)
- Angela Steinmüller (born 1941)
- Karlheinz Steinmüller (born 1950)
- Ginka Steinwachs, actually Gisela Steinwachs (born 1942)
- Adolf Stern, actually Adolf Ernst (1835–1907)
- Fritz Steuben, actually Erhard Wittek (1898–1981)
- Adalbert Stifter (1805–1868)
- Julius Stinde (1841–1905)
- Max Stirner (1806–1856)
- Helene Stöcker (1869–1943)
- Christian zu Stolberg-Stolberg (1748–1821)
- Theodor Storm (1817–1888)
- August Stramm (1874–1915)
- Botho Strauß (born 1944)
- Erwin Strittmatter (1912–1994)
- Eva Strittmatter (1930–2011)
- Antje Rávic Strubel (born 1974)
- Benjamin von Stuckrad-Barre (born 1975)
- Julius Sturm (1816–1896)
- Hermann Sudermann (1857–1928)
- Patrick Süskind (born 1949)
- Wilhelm Emanuel Süskind (1901–1970)
- Süßkind von Trimberg (1230–1300)
- Martin Suter (born 1948)
- Bertha von Suttner (1843–1914)
- Leonie Swann (born 1975)
- Carmen Sylva, actually Elisabeth Queen of Romania (1843–1916)
T
- George Tabori (born 1914)
- Tariq Abo Gamra (born 1996)
- Rudolf Tarnow (1867–1933)
- Johannes Tauler (c. 1300–1361)
- Gerhard Tersteegen (1697–1769)
- Ludwig Thoma (1867–1921)
- Moritz August von Thummel (1738–1817)
- Harry Thürk (1927–2005)
- Ludwig Tieck (1773–1853)
- Uwe Timm (born 1940)
- Ernst Toller (1893–1939)
- Friedrich Torberg, actually Friedrich Kantor-Berg (1908–1979)
- Georg Trakl (1887–1914)
- B. Traven (1882–1969)
- Ilija Trojanow (born 1965)
- Kurt Tucholsky (1890–1935)
U
- Ludwig Uhland (1787–1862)
- Regina Ullmann (1884–1961)
- Ulrich von Liechtenstein (c. 1198 – c. 1276)
- Ulrich von Zatzikhofen (13th century)
- Hermann Ungar (1893–1929)
- Fritz von Unruh (1885–1970)
- Johann Peter Uz (1720–1796)
V
- Joachim Vadianus, actually Joachim von Watt (1484–1551)
- Karl Valentin, actually Valentin Ludwig Fey (1882–1948)
- Karl August Varnhagen von Ense (1785–1858)
- Rahel Varnhagen (1771–1833)
- Berthold Viertel (1885–1953)
- Friedrich Theodor Vischer (1807–1887)
- Johann Heinrich Voß (1751–1826)
- Richard Voß (1851–1918)
- Christian August Vulpius (1762–1827)
- Rickson P Antony (1931–2001)
W
- Wilhelm Heinrich Wackenroder (1773–1798)
- Heinrich Leopold Wagner (1747–1779)
- Jan Costin Wagner (born 1972)
- Siegfried Wagner (1869–1930)
- Wilhelm Waiblinger (1804–1830)
- Carsten Wieland (1971 - )
- Walahfrid Strabo (c. 810 – 849)
- Max Waldau (1821 or 1825–1855)
- Herwarth Walden, actually Georg Lewin (1878–1941)
- Martin Walser (born 1927)
- Robert Walser (1878–1956)
- Walther von der Vogelweide (c. 1170 – c. 1230)
- Maxie Wander (1933–1977)
- Gustav von Wangenheim (1895–1975)
- Jakob Wassermann (1873–1934)
- Frank Wedekind (1864–1918)
- Hermann von Wedderkop (1875–1956)
- Armin T. Wegner (1886–1978)
- Josef Magnus Wehner (1891–1973)
- Wilhelm Weigand (1862–1949)
- Peter Weiss (1916–1982)
- Wilhelm Weitling (1808–1871)
- Ehm Welk (1884–1966)
- Franz Werfel (1890–1945)
- Zacharias Werner (1768–1823)
- Christian Wernicke (1661–1725)
- Ignaz Heinrich von Wessenberg (1774–1860)
- Ernst Wiechert (1887–1950)
- Christoph Martin Wieland (1733–1813)
- Adolf Wilbrandt (1837–1911)
- Ernst von Wildenbruch (1845–1901)
- Bruno Wille (1860–1928)
- Johann Joachim Winckelmann (1717–1768)
- Eugen Gottlob Winkler (1912–1936)
- Heinrich Wittenwiler (c. 1370–1420)
- Karl August Wittfogel (1896–1988)
- Gabriele Wohmann (born 1932)
- Christa Wolf (1929–2011)
- Friedrich Wolf (1888–1953)
- Julius Wolff (1834–1910)
- Wolfram von Eschenbach (1170–1220)
- Karl Wolfskehl (1869–1948)
- Hans Wollschläger (1935–2007)
- Ernst von Wolzogen (1855–1934)
- Paul Wühr (born 1927)
Z
- Feridun Zaimoğlu (born 1964)
- Joseph Christian von Zedlitz (1790–1862)
- Gertrud Zelinsky (born 1937)
- Eva Zeller (born 1923)
- Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (1700–1760)
- Kathinka Zitz-Halein (1801–1877)
- Johann Heinrich Daniel Zschokke (1771–1848)
- Karl Zuchardt (1887–1968)
- Carl Zuckmayer (1896–1977)
- Unica Zürn (1916–1970)
- Arnold Zweig (1887–1968)
- Stefan Zweig (1881–1942)
- Stefanie Zweig (born 1932)
- Jan Zweyer actually Rüdiger Richartz (born 1953)
- Hans von Zwiedineck-Südenhorst (1845–1906)
See also
- List of German women writers
- List of Austrian women writers
- List of Swiss women writers
- List of Germans
- List of German journalists
- List of German-language philosophers
- List of German-language playwrights
- List of German-language poets
- Lists of authors
External links
- German Wikipedia list of German-language writers
- Sophie A digital library of works by German-speaking women