Wladimir Kaminer, born in Moscow in 1967, trained as a sound engineer for theatre and radio and then studied dramaturgy at the Moscow Theatre Institute. He has been living in Berlin since 1990. He is a regular contributor to various newspapers and magazines, and he organises events. His volume of short stories, "Russendisko", and numerous other books have made him into one of the most popular and sought-after writers in Germany.
