Alfred Doblin

Alfred Doblin - Doctor, Timeline and Personal Life

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Alfred Doblin's Personal Details

Alfred Doblin was a physician cum novelist best known for the novel ‘Berlin Alexanderplatz’

InformationDetail
BirthdayAugust 10, 1878
Died onJune 26, 1957
NationalityGerman
FamousWriters, Novelists, Essayists, Doctor
Nick namesLinke Poot
SpousesErna Reiss
SiblingsHugo Döblin
Known asBruno Alfred Doblin
ChildrensPeter Döblin
Universities
  • Humboldt University of Berlin
Birth PlaceSzczecin
ReligionRoman Catholic
GenderMale
FatherMax Döblin
MotherSophie Döblin
Sun SignLeo
Born inSzczecin
Famous asWriter, Doctor
Died at Age78

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Alfred Doblin's photo

Who is Alfred Doblin?

One of the major figures of German literary modernism, Alfred Doblin, was a doctor, novelist and essayist who authored the novel ‘Berlin Alexanderplatz’ which is considered to be one of the most innovative works of the Weimar Republic. A prolific author whose literary career spanned over half a century, Doblin was truly someone who redefined 20th century German literature. He was very versatile and his works cover a variety of genres ranging from historical novels to drama, from science fiction to travel accounts and from true crimes to philosophical essays. A brilliant individual, he was a qualified doctor who specialized in neurology. He had always loved writing and started writing his first novel while he was pursuing his medical studies. His works were marked with a poignancy and disillusionment that stemmed from his own difficult childhood; he grew up in a broken family in a politically tense environment. He authored several novels but it was ‘Berlin Alexanderplatz’ that catapulted him to an iconic status and cemented his place amongst the literary geniuses of the 19th century Germany. However, some of his fans and critics felt that he did not get the recognition he truly deserved and he spent his final years struggling with financial difficulties in obscurity.

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Childhood & Early Life

He was the fourth of five children born to Max Doblin and his wife Sophie. His father was a tailor with artistic inclinations. His parents’ marriage was strained and his father left the family to live with his lover.

His mother struggled to provide for herself and the children. The difficulties of his childhood deeply impacted the young Alfred and would play a vital role in molding him into the person he ultimately became.

He studied at the K�llnischer Gymnasium high school.

Even though he did not like school, he loved to read and write. He was deeply influenced by the works of Spinoza, Nietzsche, Heinrich von Kleist, Friedrich H�lderlin, and Fyodor Dostoyevsky.

He enrolled at the Friedrich Wilhelm University to study general medicine. He moved to Freiburg inm Breisgau in 1904 to specialize in neurology and psychiatry. His dissertation, ‘Disturbances of memory in Korsakoff's Psychosis’ was published in 1905.

Career

He started working as an assistant doctor at the Berlin psychiatric clinic in Buch from October 1906. After a few years he started his private practice in 1911.

Even though he had started writing way back while studying in medical college, it was only during the 1910s that he could find a publisher to publish his works. The novel ‘The Three Leaps of Wang Lun’ was chronologically his third novel, but the first one to be published as a book in 1915-16.

He published a comic novel in 1918 which was a humorous take on the struggle for power between two fictional industrialists in the city of Berlin. The novel dealt with the themes of monopoly, capitalism, modern technology, etc.

In June 1919 he started contributing articles on social and political topics to ‘Der Neue Rundschau’ under the pseudonym Linke Poot. These articles were collected and published in the form of a book, ‘Der Deutsche Maskenball’ in 1921.

His 1920 historical novel, ‘Wallenstein’, was set in Central Europe during the Thirty Years War. A pacifist at heart, Doblin portrayed the war as the consequence of political, financial, and individual psychological factors which he felt were quite absurd.

In 1924 he brought out a science fiction, displaying his talent for covering various genres of writing. This novel, ‘Berge Meere und Giganten’ was experimental in nature and follows the development of human society from 20thto the 27th century. This novel however did not become very popular.

He wrote a novel about Franz Biberkopf, an ex-convict, who has to deal with miseries and hardships as he struggles to get a foothold on life after being released from the prison. This book, ‘Berlin Alexanderplatz’ was published in 1929 and received much critical acclaim.

After Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, Doblin left the country and went into exile first in Zurich and then in Paris. While in exile he wrote the novel tetralogy, ‘November 1918: A German Revolution’ in four volumes.

His last novel was ‘Tales of a Long Night’ which he had written between August 1945 and October 1946. It told the story of an English soldier who was badly wounded in the Second World War. The novel however was not published until a decade later in 1956.

Major Works

His novel ‘Berlin Alexanderplatz’ is considered his masterpiece and was named among the top 100 books of all time in a 2002 poll. The novel told the story of a small-time criminal who is looking for a fresh start in life after being released from prison, but is yet again drawn in to a life of crime.

Awards & Achievements

He was awarded the Fontane Prize in August 1916 for his novel ‘The Three Leaps of Wang Lun’. The prize included a monetary award of 600 Marks.

Personal Life & legacy

He became romantically involved with Friede Kunke, a 16 year old nurse, while working in Buch. However, due to family pressures, he got engaged to Erna Reiss, the daughter of a wealthy factory owner. Unknown to him, Friede was pregnant when he left her to get engaged to Erna and later gave birth to a son in October 1911.

He married Erna Reiss in January 1912 though the guilt of leaving Friede haunted him for life.

He developed Parkinson’s disease during his later years and died in June 1957. His wife committed suicide a few months later.

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Alfred Doblin's awards

YearNameAward

Other

01916 - Fontane Prize

Alfred Doblin biography timelines

  • // 10th Aug 1878
    He was the fourth of five children born to Max Doblin and his wife Sophie. His father was a tailor with artistic inclinations. His parents’ marriage was strained and his father left the family to live with his lover.
  • // 1904 To 1905
    He enrolled at the Friedrich Wilhelm University to study general medicine. He moved to Freiburg inm Breisgau in 1904 to specialize in neurology and psychiatry. His dissertation, ‘Disturbances of memory in Korsakoff's Psychosis’ was published in 1905.
  • // 1905 To 1911
    He started working as an assistant doctor at the Berlin psychiatric clinic in Buch from October 1906. After a few years he started his private practice in 1911.
  • // 1911
    He became romantically involved with Friede Kunke, a 16 year old nurse, while working in Buch. However, due to family pressures, he got engaged to Erna Reiss, the daughter of a wealthy factory owner. Unknown to him, Friede was pregnant when he left her to get engaged to Erna and later gave birth to a son in October 1911.
  • // Jan 1912
    He married Erna Reiss in January 1912 though the guilt of leaving Friede haunted him for life.
  • // 1915 To 1916
    Even though he had started writing way back while studying in medical college, it was only during the 1910s that he could find a publisher to publish his works. The novel ‘The Three Leaps of Wang Lun’ was chronologically his third novel, but the first one to be published as a book in 1915-16.
  • // 1916
    He was awarded the Fontane Prize in August 1916 for his novel ‘The Three Leaps of Wang Lun’. The prize included a monetary award of 600 Marks.
  • // 1918
    He published a comic novel in 1918 which was a humorous take on the struggle for power between two fictional industrialists in the city of Berlin. The novel dealt with the themes of monopoly, capitalism, modern technology, etc.
  • // 1919 To 1921
    In June 1919 he started contributing articles on social and political topics to ‘Der Neue Rundschau’ under the pseudonym Linke Poot. These articles were collected and published in the form of a book, ‘Der Deutsche Maskenball’ in 1921.
  • // 1920
    His 1920 historical novel, ‘Wallenstein’, was set in Central Europe during the Thirty Years War. A pacifist at heart, Doblin portrayed the war as the consequence of political, financial, and individual psychological factors which he felt were quite absurd.
  • // 1924
    In 1924 he brought out a science fiction, displaying his talent for covering various genres of writing. This novel, ‘Berge Meere und Giganten’ was experimental in nature and follows the development of human society from 20thto the 27th century. This novel however did not become very popular.
  • // 1929
    He wrote a novel about Franz Biberkopf, an ex-convict, who has to deal with miseries and hardships as he struggles to get a foothold on life after being released from the prison. This book, ‘Berlin Alexanderplatz’ was published in 1929 and received much critical acclaim.
  • // 1933
    After Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, Doblin left the country and went into exile first in Zurich and then in Paris. While in exile he wrote the novel tetralogy, ‘November 1918: A German Revolution’ in four volumes.
  • // 1945 To 1956
    His last novel was ‘Tales of a Long Night’ which he had written between August 1945 and October 1946. It told the story of an English soldier who was badly wounded in the Second World War. The novel however was not published until a decade later in 1956.
  • // 26th Jun 1957
    He developed Parkinson’s disease during his later years and died in June 1957. His wife committed suicide a few months later.
  • // 2002
    His novel ‘Berlin Alexanderplatz’ is considered his masterpiece and was named among the top 100 books of all time in a 2002 poll. The novel told the story of a small-time criminal who is looking for a fresh start in life after being released from prison, but is yet again drawn in to a life of crime.

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Alfred Doblin's FAQ

  • What is Alfred Doblin birthday?

    Alfred Doblin was born at 1878-08-10

  • When was Alfred Doblin died?

    Alfred Doblin was died at 1957-06-26

  • Where was Alfred Doblin died?

    Alfred Doblin was died in Emmendingen

  • Which age was Alfred Doblin died?

    Alfred Doblin was died at age 78

  • Where is Alfred Doblin's birth place?

    Alfred Doblin was born in Szczecin

  • What is Alfred Doblin nationalities?

    Alfred Doblin's nationalities is German

  • What is Alfred Doblin nick names?

    Alfred Doblin's nickNames is Linke Poot

  • Who is Alfred Doblin spouses?

    Alfred Doblin's spouses is Erna Reiss

  • Who is Alfred Doblin siblings?

    Alfred Doblin's siblings is Hugo Döblin

  • Who is Alfred Doblin childrens?

    Alfred Doblin's childrens is Peter Döblin

  • What was Alfred Doblin universities?

    Alfred Doblin studied at Humboldt University of Berlin

  • What is Alfred Doblin's religion?

    Alfred Doblin's religion is Roman Catholic

  • Who is Alfred Doblin's father?

    Alfred Doblin's father is Max Döblin

  • Who is Alfred Doblin's mother?

    Alfred Doblin's mother is Sophie Döblin

  • What is Alfred Doblin's sun sign?

    Alfred Doblin is Leo

  • How famous is Alfred Doblin?

    Alfred Doblin is famouse as Writer, Doctor