Günter Grass dies in Lübeck

Nobel laureate Günter Grass died this morning in a Lübeck clinic.

The publication of  The Tin Drum in 1959 placed him on the world stage. The book sold three milion copies and has been translated into 24 languages.

Grass won the Nobel prize for literature in 1999.

He ran into some controversy over his war record.

The Danzig born writer was a life-long supporter of the SPD.  He was a speech writer for Willy Brandt. He once said that he could never belong to a party or organisation in which he could always agree.

His father was a Protestant and a member of the Nazi party. His mother was a Caholic and Grass was baptised in the Catholic Church.

So far and it is now 18.00, not a word on RTE Radio about the death of Grass.

This evening Germany's ARD tv station screened The Tin Drum.

Politicians of all parties have spoken today of the greatness of Grass. And it's generally accepted that he was always belligerent, right to his death.