Austrian author Robert Seethaler celebrates 60th birthday

Austrian novelist Robert Seethaler turned 60 on 7 August 2026. Born in Vienna in 1966 and now living in Berlin, he is known internationally for works such as Der Trafikant (2012) and Ein ganzes Leben, both of which have been adapted for film. His 2023 novel Das Café ohne Namen is currently in post‑production for a film by director Adrian Goiginger.

Seethaler’s books have been translated into more than 40 languages. He grew up with a severe visual impairment, attended a school for the blind, and underwent multiple eye surgeries, experiences he says shape his writing. Before becoming a writer he trained as an actor, appearing in TV series like SOKO Leipzig and on stages in Vienna, Berlin, Stuttgart and Hamburg. Notable film adaptations of his work include Bruno Ganz’s portrayal of Sigmund Freud in Der Trafikant, directed by Nikolaus Leytner, and a version of Ein ganzes Leben by Hans Steinbichler.