DOBLIN, ALFRED (1878— ), was born at Stettin on Aug. Io, 1878. After studying in Berlin and Freiburg, he settled in Berlin as a practising doctor. His principal works are Der schwarze Vorhang (written 1902-03 ; pub. 1919) ; Die drei Sprunge des Wang-lun (a romance of China, 1916) ; Wallenstein (historical novel, 1919) and Berge, Meere, Giganten (a tale of primitive life, 1924). In these works he combines an epic force of expression with an extremely vivid narrative style. Less im portant are Wadzek's Kamp f mit der Damp f turbine (1918); Der deutsche Maskenball (essays, 1921) ; Reise in Polen (an appre ciative travel book, 1926) ; Man as (poem, 1927) ; Das Ich uber die Natur (1928). In 1928 Doblin was elected a member of the German Academy of letters.