Doctor of the House of Pipers

In this literary account of a doctor nicknamed the "Czech Albert Schweitzer", Ilona Borská brings to life the extraordinary personality of Vlasty Kálalová-Di Lotti. She treated patients, loved, studied, lectured, and travelled with a fierce determination to pursue her dream. However, her exceptional talent came at the cost of immense suffering. Born in Bernartice near Tábor, the talented young medical school graduate set off alone for the Orient in the 1920s and founded a Czechoslovak hospital in Baghdad. As a female doctor and a European, she initially had to contend with the mistrust of locals who often still relied on superstition and folk medicine. However, because she spoke Arabic fluently, she quickly built up a client base – especially among women who had previously lacked quality care. Her purpose in life was to help people. Despite personal tragedy, she never became bitter and dedicated all her strength to those who needed it most – the suffering.

Ilona Borská's novel has enjoyed undiminished popularity with readers for almost half a century. This twelfth edition features a new graphic design.