Uwe Tellkamp is a German author born on March 28, 1968, in Dresden, East Germany. He is best known for his novel, Der Turm, which explores life in East Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall. The book received critical acclaim and won several awards, including the German Book Prize in 2008. In addition to his writing, Tellkamp is also a trained physician, having studied medicine at the University of Dresden. His experiences in East Germany and his medical background often influence his literary work, providing a unique perspective on the social and political issues of his time.