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Birthday profile

Marcel Reich-Ranicki

Marcel Reich-Ranicki, Polish-German author and critic (died 2013)

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Born
June 2, 1920
Died
September 18, 2013
Zodiac sign
Gemini
Birth year
1920

About Marcel Reich-Ranicki

Marcel Reich-Ranicki was a Polish-born German literary critic and member of the informal literary association Gruppe 47. He was regarded as one of the most influential contemporary literary critics in the field of German literature and has often been called Literaturpapst in Germany. His TV appearances made Reich-Ranicki a household name even among non-readers; in 2010, a survey found that 98% of Germans had heard of him. In 1974, he was awarded an honorary professorship at the University of Tübingen, West Germany. In February 2007, the Humboldt University in Berlin awarded him an honorary degree. In October 2008, he was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the German Television Awards telecast for Literarisches Quartett.

Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.

Marcel Reich-Ranicki timeline

  1. In 1974, he was awarded an honorary professorship at the University of Tübingen, West Germany.
  2. In February 2007, the Humboldt University in Berlin awarded him an honorary degree.
  3. In October 2008, he was awarded a lifetime achievement award at the German Television Awards telecast for Literarisches Quartett.
  4. His TV appearances made Reich-Ranicki a household name even among non-readers; in 2010, a survey found that 98% of Germans had heard of him.

The world when Marcel Reich-Ranicki was born

Marcel Reich-Ranicki was born in 1920. The year snapshot below places that birthday in its cultural and historical setting: the music and films people were following, the headlines shaping public life, and the everyday prices families encountered.

Culture in 1920

  • #1 song"Swanee" – Al Jolson
  • Top movieThe Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
  • Best-selling bookThe Age of Innocence – Edith Wharton

Headlines and milestones

  • Major sports momentBabe Ruth sold to the New York Yankees
  • Top headlineWomen win the right to vote with the 19th Amendment
  • Technology milestoneFirst commercial radio broadcasts
  • Defining fadFlappers and the Jazz Age
  • Notable inventionBand-Aid adhesive bandages
  • World population1.86 billion

United States snapshot

  • U.S. leaderWoodrow Wilson
  • Sports championCleveland Indians (World Series)
  • U.S. population106.0M

1920 versus 2026

These figures put everyday life in Marcel Reich-Ranicki's birth year beside the site's latest United States snapshot.

Measure19202026
Gas$0.30$3.45/gal
Average home$6,296$435,000
Average income$3,269$67,500
Movie ticket$0.15$11.95
Postage stamp$0.02$0.73
Population106.0M341 million

Sources and editorial standards

This profile combines a biographical source with structured birthday and historical context. Sources recorded for this profile: Wikipedia, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Library of Congress, Wikidata. See our editorial policy for sourcing, corrections, and review standards.

Read the source biography on Wikipedia. Wikipedia text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.