Hans Augusto Reyersbach (born Hans Augusto Reyersbach; known as H.A. Rey) was a German-born author and illustrator best known for creating the character Curious George. Born in Hamburg in 1898, he served in the German army during World War I before moving to Brazil in 1925. He later settled in Paris with his wife, Margret Waldstein Rey, where they began producing children's books. In 1939, they published 'Rafi et les 9 Singes' (later known as 'Cecily G. and the Nine Monkeys'), which introduced the character of Curious George. The couple fled Nazi-occupied France in 1940, eventually settling in New York City where they signed a contract with Houghton Mifflin. Rey was also an amateur astronomer who published several guides to constellations. He died in 1977.[1]
