Erika Mann was born on 9 November 1905 in Munich. She first worked as an actress and journalist. At the beginning of 1933 she founded the cabaret "Die Pfeffermühle" in Munich; a few weeks later she went into exile with the whole troupe. From 1936 she lived mainly in the USA as a lecturer and publicist. During the Second World War, she participated in the BBC's German programs and was a war correspondent for the Allies. In 1952 she returned to Europe with her parents. She died in Zurich on the 27th of August 1969.