He was also a prolific translator of the works of German literature.

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Auma Obama grew up in the family's homestead in Kogelo before moving to Germany where she spent 16 years as a journalist, broadcaster and studied for a PhD in German literature.

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He also wrote extensively about almost everything else: history, diplomacy, French literature, German literature (in this case, on the lack of it), religion, philosophy and the practical arts of government (in which he himself excelled).

ECONOMIST: Historical biography

Zipes, a professor emeritus of German and comparative literature at the University of Minnesota, has written sixty books on or of folk tales: critical studies, collections, translations.

NEWYORKER: Once Upon a Time

Through her he discovered Asian art and German and East European literature.

ECONOMIST: French muses

In 1948, Lanzmann, armed with a degree in philosophy from the Sorbonne (he specialized in Leibniz), went to Berlin to teach philosophy and literature to German students.

NEWYORKER: Witness

After obtaining her undergraduate degree in French and French literature, Oh, 28, worked for German auto company Henkel Korea as an interpreting secretary.

FORBES: Creative Koreans