Arthur Koestler

Hungarian-British author and journalist (1905–1983)
Person human Q78494
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Arthur Koestler

Summary

Arthur Koestler is a human[1]. His place of birth was Budapest[2]. He was born on September 5, 1905[3]. He died in London[4]. He died on March 1, 1983[5]. He worked as a writer[6], philosopher[7], novelist[8], journalist[9], and screenwriter[10]. He ranks in the top 0.67% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (3,263 views/month, #6,701 of 1,000,298).[11]

Key Facts

  • Arthur Koestler was born in Budapest[2].
  • Arthur Koestler passed away in London[4].
  • Arthur Koestler was born on September 5, 1905[3].
  • Arthur Koestler died on March 1, 1983[5].
  • Arthur Koestler's father was Henrik Koestler[12].
  • Among Arthur Koestler's spouses was Mamaine Koestler[13].
  • Among Arthur Koestler's spouses was Mamaine Koestler[14].
  • Arthur Koestler was married to Cynthia Koestler[15].
  • Arthur Koestler held citizenship in Austria–Hungary[16].
  • Arthur Koestler held citizenship in United Kingdom[17].
  • Arthur Koestler held citizenship in Austria[18].
  • Arthur Koestler held citizenship in Hungary[19].
  • Arthur Koestler worked as a writer[6].
  • Arthur Koestler worked as a philosopher[7].
  • Arthur Koestler's professions included novelist[8].
  • Arthur Koestler worked as a journalist[9].
  • Arthur Koestler's professions included screenwriter[10].
  • Arthur Koestler worked as an autobiographer[20].
  • Arthur Koestler's education included a stint at TU Wien[21].
  • A notable work attributed to Arthur Koestler is Darkness at Noon[22].
  • A notable work attributed to Arthur Koestler is The Thirteenth Tribe[23].
  • A notable work attributed to Arthur Koestler is The Yogi and the Commissar[24].
  • A notable work attributed to Arthur Koestler is The Sleepwalkers[25].
  • Arthur Koestler received the Commander of the Order of the British Empire[26].
  • Arthur Koestler received the Sonning Prize[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Arthur Koestler's place of birth was Budapest[2]. He was born on September 5, 1905[3]. His father was Henrik Koestler[12].

Education

Arthur Koestler's education included a stint at TU Wien[21].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include writer[6], philosopher[7], novelist[8], journalist[9], screenwriter[10], and autobiographer[20].

Works and Contributions

Notable works include Darkness at Noon[22], a literary work[28], founded in 1940[29]; The Thirteenth Tribe[23], a written work[30]; The Yogi and the Commissar[24], a literary work[31]; and The Sleepwalkers[25], a written work[32]. Things named for Arthur Koestler include 75063 Koestler[33], an asteroid[34].

Recognition

Awards received include Commander of the Order of the British Empire[26], a grade of an order[35], in United Kingdom[36] and Sonning Prize[27], a cultural prize[37], in Denmark[38], founded in 1950[39].

Personal Life

Spouses include Mamaine Koestler[13], 1916–1954[40], of United Kingdom[41] and Cynthia Koestler[15], a secretary[42], 1928–1983[43]. Arthur Koestler was affiliated with the Communist Party of Germany[44].

Death and Burial

Arthur Koestler died on March 1, 1983[5]. He died in London[4]. The cause of death was intoxication[45].

Why It Matters

Arthur Koestler ranks in the top 0.67% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (3,263 views/month, #6,701 of 1,000,298).[11] He has Wikipedia articles in 27 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[46] He is known by 36 alternative names across languages and contexts.[47]

He has been cited as an influence by Helen MacInnes[48], a librarian[49], 1907–1985[50], of United Kingdom[51].

Works attributed to him include Darkness at Noon[52], a literary work[53], founded in 1940[54]; The God that Failed[55], a written work[56], written by Louis Fischer[57]; Scum of the Earth[58], a literary work[59], founded in 1941[60]; The Thirteenth Tribe[61], a written work[62]; The Roots of Coincidence[63], a literary work[64]; and The Sleepwalkers[65], a written work[66]. Entities named for him include 75063 Koestler[33], an asteroid[34].

FAQs

Where was Arthur Koestler born?

Born in Budapest[2], Arthur Koestler…

Where did Arthur Koestler die?

Arthur Koestler died in London[4].

Who were Arthur Koestler's parents?

Arthur Koestler's father was Henrik Koestler[12].

Who was Arthur Koestler married to?

Arthur Koestler's spouses include Mamaine Koestler[13], Mamaine Koestler[14], and Cynthia Koestler[15].

What did Arthur Koestler do for work?

Arthur Koestler worked as writer[6], philosopher[7], novelist[8], journalist[9], and screenwriter[10].

Where did Arthur Koestler go to school?

Arthur Koestler was educated at TU Wien[21].

What awards did Arthur Koestler receive?

Honors received include Commander of the Order of the British Empire[26] and Sonning Prize[27].

Who did Arthur Koestler influence?

Arthur Koestler has been cited as an influence by Helen MacInnes[48].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  2. [4] . rbb-online.de. rbb-online.de. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  3. [12] . The Peerage. wikidata.org.
  4. [13] . anatpro.com. anatpro.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  5. [14] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  6. [15] . Catalog of the German National Library. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  7. [16] . wikidata.org.
  8. [17] . LIBRIS. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  9. [18] . Catalog of the German National Library. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  10. [19] . Catalog of the German National Library. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  11. [21] . wikidata.org.
  12. [44] . wikidata.org.
  13. [6] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  14. [7] . wikidata.org.
  15. [8] . wikidata.org.
  16. [9] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  17. [10] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  18. [20] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  19. [26] . wikidata.org.
  20. [27] . wikidata.org.
  21. [45] . wikidata.org.
  22. [3] . Integrated Authority File. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  23. [5] . BnF authorities. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  24. [22] . wikidata.org.
  25. [23] . wikidata.org.
  26. [24] . wikidata.org.
  27. [25] . wikidata.org.

Inverse relationships (entities pointing at this one)

  1. [48] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [52] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [55] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [58] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [61] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [63] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [65] . wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [33] . wikidata.org. → on this site

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [40] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [41] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [42] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [43] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [35] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [36] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [37] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [38] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [39] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [28] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [29] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [30] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [31] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [32] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [49] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [50] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [51] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  18. [53] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  19. [54] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  20. [56] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  21. [57] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [59] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [60] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [62] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [64] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  26. [66] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  27. [34] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [11] . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [46] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [47] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

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Use these citations when quoting this entity in research, articles, AI prompts, or wherever provenance matters. We aggregate Wikidata + Wikipedia + authoritative open-data sources; the stitched, scored, cross-referenced view is what 4ort.xyz contributes.

APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Arthur Koestler. Retrieved April 10, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/arthur-koestler
MLA “Arthur Koestler.” 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph, 4ort.xyz, 10 Apr. 2026, https://4ort.xyz/entity/arthur-koestler.
BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_arthur-koestler_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Arthur Koestler}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/arthur-koestler}, note = {Accessed: 2026-04-10}}
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Rolling log of changes to this entity's Wikidata record. Values shown reflect the current state of each edited property — follow the history link to see the precise diff for any edit.

  1. 8h ago · Gumruch · 2026-05-31 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Slovak national library (viaf) id vtls010080207
    "/* wbsetclaim-create:2||1 */ [[Property:P7700]]: vtls010080207, Added with [[User:Bargioni/moreIdentifiers|moreIdentifiers]]"
  2. 10d ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-21 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Image needs reharvest
    Image purged license
    Image last checked license
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    + 1 other property edited (see Wikidata diff for full list)
    "/* wbeditentity-update:0| */ QuickStatements 3.0 [[:toollabs:qs-dev/batch/32152|batch #32152]]: import P21 and P106 from GND (34)"
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