What is the author's style in Ali & Nino by Kurban Said?

According to the afterword and editorial comments, Ali and Nino is first published in 1937 in German and largely forgotten until it appears in English translation in 1970. Jenia Graman stumbles on a copy in a used book store after World War II, is impressed, translates it, and sees to its publication. There is no indication of who Graman is or what her qualifications as a translator might be. She retains the German spellings for all names, titles, places, and objects. A reader not versed in Muslim culture will find it merely difficult to sound out these words and phrases. Anyone else will be frustrated trying to figure out who or what is being discussed.