[Alfred Döblin (1878-1957). Notes on the cover picture]

Alfred Döblin studied medicine after completing his Abitur (A-levels). In 1905 he earned his doctorate under Alfred Hoche, director of the psychiatric clinic, by presenting a study on "Memory disorders in Korsakoff's psychosis." He subsequently worked as an assistant doctor in various psychiatric clinics until he switched to internal medicine in 1908. He opened a practice as panel doctor in 1911, which he operated until 1930. Although Döblin had already published a few stories, he first became generally known in 1929 with the appearance of his novel entitled "Berlin Alexanderplatz: the story of Franz Biberkopf." After the burning of the Reichstag in February 1933, as a Jewish socialist Döblin was forced to emigrate. He was unable to work as a physician during his exile, but remained active in his literary pursuits. Döblin died on 26 June 1957 in the state hospital in Emmendingen.