Photo: Elena Ternovaja / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
I have a real soft spot for Cornelia Funke. The detail that she started as a social worker before drawing book illustrations and then writing tells you everything about her fiction. Her stories keep returning to children facing adversity, and I suspect that empathy was forged on the job, not at a writing desk. There is something admirable about an author who can collect a national Order of Merit yet stay devoted to children's fantasy rather than chasing literary prestige. Inkheart aside, what I value most is her stubborn belief that imagination is a survival tool for kids. That conviction reads as earned, not decorative.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Cornelia Funke
- Name (Japanese)
- コルネーリア・フンケ
- Reading
- こるねーりあ・ふんけ
- Born
- December 10, 1958 (age 67)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Sagittarius / Dog
- Origin
- Dorsten, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
- Occupation
- writer / children's writer / screenwriter / illustrator / film producer
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 2008 Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- 2008 Roswitha Prize
- 2015 Annette von Droste-Hülshoff Prize
- 2004 Zilveren Griffel
- 2000 Wildweibchenpreis
- 2004 Phantastik-Preis der Stadt Wetzlar
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Inkheart | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Cornelia Funke born?
Born December 10, 1958 (age 67).
Where is Cornelia Funke from?
Cornelia Funke is from Dorsten, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
What does Cornelia Funke do?
Cornelia Funke works as writer, children's writer, screenwriter, illustrator, film producer.
What is Cornelia Funke known for?
Notable works include Inkheart.
Writer — see all → · Children's writer — see all → · More people from Germany →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.