Born in 1922 in Hildesheim. In November 1937 emigrated to the USA; American citizen since 1943. From 1940 to 1942 studied at the University of St. Louis. From 1942 to 1945 served in the US Army's Military Intelligence Service, earning the rank of Master Sergeant, decorated Bronze Star. 1948 BA (Romance languages) at Hofstra College, Hempstead, NY, graduate studies at Columbia University, New York: MA (Germanic Studies) 1950; 1953 doctoral dissertation “Fielding, Wieland and Goethe, A Study in the Development of the Novel.” He has held professorships at Columbia University, Denison University, the University of Cincinnati, University of Maryland and Wayne State University Detroit. He has also held guest professorships in Germany at the Universities of Freiburg, Frankfurt, Leipzig, Potsdam and Munich. Co-Founder of the Lessing Society, president from 1975-1977; president of the American Association of Teachers of German 1970-1972; standing member of the board of the Leo Baeck institute since 1967. Since 1982 member, later secretary, of the Kurt Weill Foundation.

Honored as Distinguished Germanist of the year (AATG, 1985), the Grand Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1987), and the Goethe Medal (1989) and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching (1992). His published books and articles include studies of Kurt Weill and of German and English literature of the 18th and 20th century. He was honored by Festschriften, sponsored by the Wayne State University and the University of Munich respectively.