[1] Born in Munich, Germany on 31 November 1917,[2] Gundolf came from a famous literary family, being the daughter of Friedrich Gundolf and godchild of Melchior Lechter, a noted graphic artist.
Gundolf's grandfather was Jewish; her mother was concerned this would make problems for the family following Adolf Hitler's accession to power in Germany, so she asked Albert Einstein, a family friend for advice.
Her first work, "Myrtles and Mice: Leaves from the Italian Diary of Cordelia Gundolf" was published in 1935.
[3] Gundolf worked as a translator before applying for the position of Italian language lecturer at the University of Melbourne in 1960.
[2] Gundolf died of liver cancer on 10 September 2008 in Benalla, Victoria.