The book is set in 1930s Poland and tells the story of a renowned surgeon who loses his memory after suffering an injury, shortly after being abandoned by his wife.
He ends up as a labourer in a small village, where he begins to work as a healer. When he finally regains his memory, a series of shocking events unfolds.
Published in 1937, the book quickly became a sensation. Its first film adaptation was released that same year.
In 1981, Jerzy Hoffman’s screen adaptation became a huge box-office success. Two years ago, Netfix adapted the novel into a miniseries called Forgotten Love.
The novel was translated into English by Danuta Hamlin and Hyperion Knight.
In an interview with Poland's PAP news agency, they described the novel as a captivating thriller that combines the intrigue of The Bourne Identity—where amnesia masks hidden strengths—with the romance of Pride & Prejudice, where love triumphs over class divides.
Hamlin told the agency's New York correspondent that this literary classic is not only a gripping love story, but also a vivid portrayal of life in prewar Poland.
“There’s a growing interest in Poland, its history and culture, and we wanted Americans to learn about Polish history," she added.
Knight likened The Charlatan to Gone with the Wind, and echoed Hamlin’s view that Dołęga-Mostowicz's book offers a window into a long-lost world, providing insight into Polish history between the two world wars.
The Charlatan is available on Amazon in Kindle format as well as in soft cover. It is promoted as "a tale of high drama, forbidden love, medicine, and mystery."
Tadeusz Dołęga-Mostowicz (1898-1939) wrote over a dozen popular novels, including The Career of Nicodemus Dyzma.
(mk/gs)