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David Applefield 
The Lexikon der Schweizer Literaturen (Lenos Verlag, 1991) includes nearly 500 pages of biographic information on hundreds of Switzerland´s most accomplished writers and thinkers. We were surprised by a number of these individuals whom we hadn´t thought of as Swiss, and thought Frank readers might appreciate having a glance at the short list we´ve culled from the lexicon. Writers whose work we´ve included in Frank have not been added to this list. We extend our apologies for omissions and oversights, of which there are undoubtedly plenty. For English translations of the works of these writers, follow the links at www.ReadFrank.com.--DA
* Jean Calvin. 1509-64. Theologian, best known for his beliefs concerning predestination. Died in Geneva.
* Blaise Cendrars. 1887-61. Born Frederic Sauser in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Poet and essayist, known for his bold, experimental, action-packed writing.
* Dada in Zurich. Explosive avant-garde art movement that began in Zurich in 1916 and spread like wildfire...
* Friedrich Duerrenmatt. 1921-90. Known for his essays, avant-garde theater pieces and existential detective novels.
* Max Frisch. 1911-91. One of Switzerland´s most acclaimed writers and architects, Frisch was born and died in Zurich.
* Herman Hesse. 1877-62. Poet, novelist, aestheticist. Author of Demian (1919), Siddhartha (1922), Steppenwolf (1927), Narziss und Goldmund (1930).
* Paul Klee. 1879-40. Painter, water-colorist, etcher.
* Hugo Loetscher. 1929. Novelist, literary critic, journalist. "To talk about something that doesn´t exist is not the privilege of politicians. To talk about Swiss Literature is to talk about something that doesn´t exist. But it does not exist in its own special way; my country has always liked the special case."
* E.Y. Meyer. 1946- Acclaimed free-lance writer; recipient of Swiss Schiller Foundation Prize and the Welti Prize for Drama.
* Adolf Muschg. 1934- Writer of novels, stories, dramatic works. Known for his work on the correlation between literature and therapy.
* Robert Pinget. 1919-97. Avant-garde novelist and playwright. Member of the Nouveau Roman (new novel) literary movement.
* Ramuz, C.F. 1878-1947. Switzerland´s leading Romand writer of the 20th century, known for freeing Swiss French writing from its obsession with moral imperatives and its dependence on Parisian literary models.
* Jean Jacques Rousseau. 1712-78. Philosopher. Author of The Social Contract (1762), Confessions (1765-70).
* Robert Walser. 1878-56. Novelist and short story writer, best known in English speaking world for The Rose.
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