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Hakim: Román egyptského lékaře
Egy orvos regénye
John Knittel svájci író nagy sikerű regényének, a Via Malának mintegy ellenpólusa az El-hakim, amely az olvasót a század eleji Egyiptom egzotikus földjére vezeti el- Egyiptomba, ahol a tehetetlen kormányok alatt a nép nyomorban és szennyben, még ivóvízben is szűkölködve él, ahol járványok dúlnak, nőket rabolnak el, és beduinok készülnek vérbosszúra, ahol virágzik a korrupció, és ahol a végső szót mindenben az angol főkormányzó mondja ki. Ebben az országban szeretne segítő "hakim', vagyis orvos lenni a kis Ibráhim Gamal, régi, de szegény kopt kereskedőcsalád fia, aki a Nílus menti Aszjútból indul el, hogy mindenható tudást gyűjtsön a kairói egyetemen. Ám első betege, az az öregasszony, akit egy hályogkovács biztonságával operál meg a város felé tartó bárkán, különös jóslatot ad neki útravalóul... Ibrahim doktor sikeres, de küzdelmes életét végigkíséri ez a jóslat, s egyre többet ért meg belőle, amint újra meg újra összehozza a sors Azízával, egy gyönyörű lánnyal, aki egykor megismertette vele a szerelmet, s aki maga is nehéz utat tesz meg addig, amíg az utolsó jövendölés is be nem teljesül...
John Knittel svájci író nagy sikerű regényének, a Via Malának mintegy ellenpólusa az El-hakim, amely az olvasót a század eleji Egyiptom egzotikus földjére vezeti el- Egyiptomba, ahol a tehetetlen kormányok alatt a nép nyomorban és szennyben, még ivóvízben is szűkölködve él, ahol járványok dúlnak, nőket rabolnak el, és beduinok készülnek vérbosszúra, ahol virágzik a korrupció, és ahol a végső szót mindenben az angol főkormányzó mondja ki. Ebben az országban szeretne segítő "hakim', vagyis orvos lenni a kis Ibráhim Gamal, régi, de szegény kopt kereskedőcsalád fia, aki a Nílus menti Aszjútból indul el, hogy mindenható tudást gyűjtsön a kairói egyetemen. Ám első betege, az az öregasszony, akit egy hályogkovács biztonságával operál meg a város felé tartó bárkán, különös jóslatot ad neki útravalóul... Ibrahim doktor sikeres, de küzdelmes életét végigkíséri ez a jóslat, s egyre többet ért meg belőle, amint újra meg újra összehozza a sors Azízával, egy gyönyörű lánnyal, aki egykor megismertette vele a szerelmet, s aki maga is nehéz utat tesz meg addig, amíg az utolsó jövendölés is be nem teljesül...
347 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1948
6 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
John Knittel
41 books6 followersJohn 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 29, 2023
Having read Via Mala and Therese Etienne I approached the book with high expectations. Unfortunately I was disappointed, in my opinion this book is boring. Didn't like the stile this time around.
May 3, 2017
autobiographic novel good
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews