In 1856, Karl May commenced teacher training but in 1859 was expelled for stealing six candles but after appealing was allowed to continue.

Shortly after graduation, when his roommate accused him of stealing a watch, he was jailed in Chemnitz for six weeks and his license to teach was permanently revoked.

After this, Karl May worked with little success as a private tutor, an author of tales, a composer and a public speaker. For four years, from 1865 to 1869, he was jailed in the workhouse at Osterstein Castle.

With good behaviour, he became an administrator of the prison library which gave him the chance to read widely. He made a list of the works he planned to write.

On his release, Karl May continued his life of crime, impersonating various characters (policemen, doctors etc.) and spinning fantastic tales as a method of fraud.

He was arrested, but when he was transported to a crime scene during a judicial investigation, he escaped and fled to Bohemia, where he was detained for vagrancy. For another four years, from 1870 to 1874, he was jailed in Saxony.

After his release in May 1874, Karl May returned to his parents’ home and began to write. In 1878, he became a freelance writer. In 1880, he married Emma Pollmer. Once again, he was insolvent.

In 1892, the publication of ‘Collected Travel Accounts’ brought financial security and recognition. He became deeply absorbed in the stories he wrote and the lives of his characters.

In 1908, Karl May spent six weeks in North America. For the novels set in America, he created the characters of Winnetou, the wise chief wise of the Apaches and Old Shatterhand, Winnetou’s white blood brother.

On his return, he began work on complex allegorical texts. He considered the question of  mankind, pacifism and the raising of Humans from evil to good.

He is one of the best-selling German writers of all time with about 200 million copies worldwide.

Die Blutsbrüderschaft war bei den Germanen die engste Verbindung zweier Männer. Die Beteiligten verpflichteten sich, einander im täglichen Leben bedingungslos beizustehen und sich darauf verlassen zu können, dass der eine dem anderen in jeder Situation mit unerschütterlicher Treue und Hilfe beistand.

Freunde hatten im germanischen Sippengedanken eine hohe Position inne, aber mit der Blutsbruderschaft wurden sie zu wirklichen Brüdern. Die Blutsbrüderschaft umfasste auch die Sorge für Frau und Kinder des Blutsbruders.