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John Knittel

Born

in Dharwar, India

March 24, 1891

Died

April 26, 1970

Website

http://www.knittel.ch/

Genre

Classics

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John Knittel was the son of a Württemberg missionary, Hermann Wilhelm Knittel, who was in the service of the Baseler Mission, along with his wife Ana née Schultze, was from the South Tyrol. Knittel was born in India, where his parents were engaged in missionary work. In 1895, the Knittels traveled with their children from India and returned to Switzerland and settled in Basel. John Knittel enrolled at the Gymnasium am Münsterplatz and was a schoolmate of Carl Jacob Burckhardt. He left the school and search for a vocational school in which to study and eventually became an apprentice in a cotton textile factory owned by an uncle.

In 1908 he moved to London and worked as a bank teller for Crédit Lyonnais. He then as a projectionist in some the John Knittel was the son of a Württemberg missionary, Hermann Wilhelm Knittel, who was in the service of the Baseler Mission, along with his wife Ana née Schultze, was from the South Tyrol. Knittel was born in India, where his parents were engaged in missionary work. In 1895, the Knittels traveled with their children from India and returned to Switzerland and settled in Basel. John Knittel enrolled at the Gymnasium am Münsterplatz and was a schoolmate of Carl Jacob Burckhardt. He left the school and search for a vocational school in which to study and eventually became an apprentice in a cotton textile factory owned by an uncle.

In 1908 he moved to London and worked as a bank teller for Crédit Lyonnais. He then as a projectionist in some theaters. In London, he met his future wife Frances White Mac Bridger, whom he married in 1915 against the will of her parents. This marriage produced three children.

A meeting with the English writer Robert Smythe Hichens in 1917 was the start of his life as a writer. Hichens recognized Knittel's talent and urged him to write in English. In 1919, his first novel appeared The Travels of Aaron West, which became a commercial success. In England, he became a member of P.E.N. Club.

In 1921, Knittel settled in Switzerland with his wife, children and Hichens near Genfersee. In the following years, he took his family on his wide travels: Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia. In Egypt, he was impressed by Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi and supported a Schweizer Project dedicated to improving the life of poor fellaheen. The uncertain world political situation compelled the Knittels to return to Europe. In 1938 they began to live in the Haus Römersteig in Weinbergen von Maienfeld in Graubünden.

After the beginning of World War II, he sought Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels and with an introduction by Hans Carossa became a member of the Europäische Schriftsteller-Vereinigung (European Writers' League). In 1943 several friends of his daughter were sentenced to death for their participation in White Rose (Weiße Rose) - Willi Graf, Alexander Schmorell and Kurt Huber. He was denounced by his Swiss colleagues as a "Friend of the Nazis" (Nazifreund) and was expelled from the Schweizer Schriftsteller Verband (SSV).

Knittel died in his home in Maienfeld on April 26, 1970 at the age of 79. ...more

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John Knittel’s books

Average rating: 3.93 · 511 ratings · 36 reviews · 45 distinct works • Similar authors

	Via Mala 4.03 avg rating — 297 ratings — published 1936 — 10 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	El Hakim : Roman aus dem heutigen Ägypten 3.96 avg rating — 90 ratings — published 1948 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Thérèse Etienne 3.83 avg rating — 29 ratings — published 1928 — 65 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Nile Gold 3.72 avg rating — 25 ratings — published 1929 — 22 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Abd-El-Kader 3.91 avg rating — 22 ratings — published 1930 — 28 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Drum în noapte 3.17 avg rating — 12 ratings — published 1924 — 13 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Der Commandant 3.78 avg rating — 9 ratings — published 1933 — 20 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Amadeus 3.13 avg rating — 8 ratings — published 1971 — 28 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Arietta 2.83 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 1956 — 9 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Abd-el-Kader 2 (Abd-el-Kader, #2) by John Knittel, Jože Dolenc (Translator) really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 1963	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by John Knittel…

Series by John Knittel

Abd-el-Kader (2 books)
by

John Knittel,

Jože Dolenc (Translator)

3.93 avg rating — 28 ratings

Terra Magna (2 books)
by

John Knittel

2.67 avg rating — 3 ratings

Quotes by John Knittel (?)

“Napredek in čudovito obdobje besnečega razvoja sta po njegovem ustvarila generacijo duševnih pohabljencev, ki bi bila potrebna nege v zdraviliščih. Prinesla sta s seboj množično živčnost, množično histerijo, množični dolgčas in množično smrt.”
― John Knittel

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John Knittel’s Followers (6)

John Knittel

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