Karl May (25. 2. 1842 - 30. 3. 1912) - German writer, author of the epic adventure novels. According to his master was in the sixties turned successful series of adventure films. The greatest popularity was given to the works which featured chief Winnetou Apache Indian Tribe, which is played by French actor Pierre Brice. In the role of his blood brother Old Shatterhand appeared American Lex Barker.

Karl May was born in the German town Ernstthal in the Ore Mountains. Extended family struggled with poverty and poor nutrition resulted in Charles Health: Childhood suffered from rickets, had vision problems. May's talent was developed after entering school, which has fully demonstrated its strong interest in literature. He also taught English, French and Latin language and playing musical instruments.

In 1861 he graduated from teacher's seminar in Waldenburg and began working as an assistant teacher in Glauchau. Due to a dispute with the owner, who suspected that seduces his wife, he had to leave the place soon.

For minor offenses several times later came into conflict with the law. In their twenties, was sentenced to six weeks in prison for allegedly stealing a watch, then even to four years of forced labor in Zwickau. Nevertheless, he was paroled, he soon found himself behind bars again: this time in the penitentiary of Waldheim. Critics and various envious of his transgressions often later remember and sometimes even deliberately exaggerated. Short circuits in May's behavior was apparently caused by a mental disorder. On the other hand him stay between social underclass has yielded excellent opportunity to study the various characters: and the experience he used while writing his novels. Already in prison began writing adventure stories and sent them to magazines. His work for sure signing various pseudonyms. Less than a year after his release from jail he M�nchmeyer publisher offered the job editor of the weekly Der Beobachter an der Elbe (Observer on the Elbe). Nevertheless, the title was repulsed, working as editor with Mayo liked and wished to continue it. Under the wings of publishing based magazine Schacht und H�tte (wells and smelters) and the Deutsches Familienblatt (German family list), in which he published his short story Old Firehand. There is a character first appeared Apache chief Winnetou. Even in the service M�nchmeyer published his first novel, The last two trips Quitzow , whose plot situate in the 15th century. May, however, also produced various stories poor level, which were later rather boast.

In early 1877 the publishing house and left after a few months he became editor of the weekly Frohe Stunden. The reason for leaving was apparently an effort M�nchmeyer marry him with his wife's sister, however, in which a young writer not find the slightest affection.

First got married three years later with Emma Linn Polmerovou. While charming woman, but completely different in character. That she had already had the novel captured at sea , a portion of which then incorporate into the book Old Surehand .

The situation changed significantly after the offer came from the publisher Friedrich Ernst Fehsenfeld from Freiburg. He decided Mayans work in book form. In addition to stories from the Orient appeared legendary titles Vinnetou , Odl Surehand , Old Shatterhand , Treasure of Silver Lake and more ., which is more than half a century later lunch our film processing and became a cult status. Most of the films produced in the West German - Yugoslav coproduction was in the Balkans.

Along with the author's fame grew and his cash account. May be fully aligned with the roles of their heroes and often acted as a true Old Shatterhand or oriental adventurer Kara ben NEMS. Do Orient, while first looked up in 1899. The fifteen months-long journey for Maye was a shock and a severe confrontation of imagination with reality. Since then, he wrote much more realistic novels. In 1903, he divorced and remarried with Klara Pl�hnovou, who moved to his villa Shatterhand in Radebeul near Dresden (now a museum).

May's immense popularity suffered when opponents began to point to his criminal past and questioned his alleged exotic expeditions. Karl May replied actions, although they won, but it took a lot of strength. In 1910 he wrote an autobiography My life and my goals . He died two years later of a heart attack. May was an extremely prolific writer: created thirty-six novels and dozens of short stories. I left his mark in Bohemia, where from 1897 - 1998 he wrote an adventure novel Christmas .