Felix Salten, born Siegmund Salzmann on September 6, 1869, in Pest, Hungary (now part of Budapest), was an Austrian author and critic, best known for creating the timeless children's classic "Bambi, eine Lebensgeschichte aus dem Walde" ("Bambi: A Life in the Woods"), first published in 1923. His work, which has captivated generations of readers with its charming and emotive depiction of forest animals in a coming-of-age story, was later adapted into the iconic Disney animated film "Bambi." Salten wrote numerous books, essays, and plays, and his literary contributions encompassed a variety of themes and genres beyond the children's literature for which he is most famously remembered. He also worked as a journalist and was involved with the literary circles of Vienna. Felix Salten passed away in Zurich, Switzerland, on October 8, 1945.