What do you think?
Rate this book
Der Commandant
Text: German
221 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1933
2 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 26, 2017
Truly amazing read. The story is written from a point of view of the writer/story teller alternating with flash backs of one of the three main characters.
The writer first meet these three people in Avignon in a nearly empty hotel. The time is not specified, but it looks that is the post WWI time. Lady Helen, 30 and beautiful, aristocratic and rich and Mrs Foster, 40 a socialist and feminist, proud of her achievement of earning her own income and leaving her husband behind. The main character, the Commandant, a high ranking officer in Légion étrangère is already a guest in the hotel when the two ladies arrive.
The second time he meets Vera Foster in Morocco some 15 months later in the hospital garden adjacent to his hotel an it is here that he learns the fate of their trip from Avignon to Morocco and their love stories.
The writing is beautful, especially when Knittel writes about Africa and describes the beauty and custom of the native people.
The characters are not really amiable, but perfectly created.
The writer first meet these three people in Avignon in a nearly empty hotel. The time is not specified, but it looks that is the post WWI time. Lady Helen, 30 and beautiful, aristocratic and rich and Mrs Foster, 40 a socialist and feminist, proud of her achievement of earning her own income and leaving her husband behind. The main character, the Commandant, a high ranking officer in Légion étrangère is already a guest in the hotel when the two ladies arrive.
The second time he meets Vera Foster in Morocco some 15 months later in the hospital garden adjacent to his hotel an it is here that he learns the fate of their trip from Avignon to Morocco and their love stories.
The writing is beautful, especially when Knittel writes about Africa and describes the beauty and custom of the native people.
The characters are not really amiable, but perfectly created.
September 2, 2021
По мрачниот и депресивен, опседнат со самотијата, Онети, Кнител ми беше вистинско откритие.
Лесно и навидум едноставно, но сепак, комплексно четиво, со малку на број ликови, но одлично обработени.
Ми се допаѓа стилот на Кнител, не е едноставен и прост како што изгледа. На пример, пределите, ги опишува со неколку зборови, но сепак добивате впечаток како да ги посетиле. Дијалозите се богати, а ликовите исполнети со живот. Кога тие уживаат и вие уживате, кога тие страдаат, и вие страдате заедно нив.
Лесно и навидум едноставно, но сепак, комплексно четиво, со малку на број ликови, но одлично обработени.
Ми се допаѓа стилот на Кнител, не е едноставен и прост како што изгледа. На пример, пределите, ги опишува со неколку зборови, но сепак добивате впечаток како да ги посетиле. Дијалозите се богати, а ликовите исполнети со живот. Кога тие уживаат и вие уживате, кога тие страдаат, и вие страдате заедно нив.
September 28, 2025
This book is painfully dull, just drowning in details that are completely irrelevant to the story.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews