John Knittel, El Hakim (physician) [1939]

Year of publication: 1939 (actually printed in 1938). First Polish edition.

Number of pages: 442.

Size: 22 cm.

Binding: Period half-leather bookbinding with embossing on the spine.

Translation: Edwin Herbert, from English.

“El Hakim,” the best-known novel by Swiss author John Knittl, was also published in English as “Dr. Ibrahim.” It tells the story of a young, talented Egyptian who, after studying medicine in Cairo and London, returns to his homeland and, as a doctor in the provinces, battles epidemics, poverty, and corruption. The Polish translation was published in Poznań in 1939, just before the outbreak of the war.

First Polish edition, in a period binding.

The volume (442 pp.) is in good condition; the pages are clean, with no foxing, creases, or tears. The binding holds the volume firmly; the spine leather is smooth, the gilt lettering is slightly faded, and the edges of the cover show minimal signs of storage.

An item from the 19th Polish Antiquarian Book Auction.