Jaroslav Rudis, born in Turnov, Czechoslovakia, in 1972, is a prize-winning Czech author, playwright and dramatist. Winterberg's Last Journey is his first book to be originally written in German. In 2021, he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in recognition of his cultural contribution to German-Czech relations, with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier praising Winterberg's Last Journey in particular as 'a haunting exploration of history in the area where two World Wars began'. Rudis studied German and history and previously worked as a teacher and journalist. His most recent books include the 2021 DER SPIEGEL bestseller Gebrauchtsanweisung furs Zugreisen ('A User's Guide to Train Travel') and the 2020 graphic novel Nachtgestalten ('Creatures of the Night') with Austrian illustrator Nicolas Mahler. His Czech-language works also include the cult graphic novel and animated film Alois Nebel (with illustrator Jaromir 99). Kris is a freelance translator from German into English based in Berlin. She has a degree in Social Sciences, a Masters in Public Policy and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists.
