Caroline and Karen are hosting Hermann Hesse reading week and, because my relationship with this author is rather ambivalent, I find myself full of curiosity about your relationship with him. If you wouldn’t mind answering a few questions in comments, I think the resultant picture might be quite fascinating.
- Who introduced you to Hesse?
- How old were you when you read your first Hesse? What was it?
- Did you read anything after that? Was this reading formative?
- What’s your favourite and why?
- If you were initially enthusiastic, has your enthusiasm been maintained?
- Are you joining in Hesse Reading Week and, if so, what have you chosen to read and why?
OK. Now I’ll answer my own questions.
- One of the members of the rock band Queen! I was – and remain – the biggest Queen fan in the world and in an interview I once read, one of the group mentioned The Glass Bead Game. So, off I went to the library ….
- I was 16 and completely mesmerised by TGBG, although I didn’t understand much of it.
- I went on to read Steppenwolf, Peter Camenzind, Demian, Narziss (now Narcissus) and Goldmund. I was too young really to understand the philosophy, but, this was in the time before I had decided to study German, so I now wonder in hindsight, if reading all this Hesse had something to do with that decision. Discounting Heidi, Hesse was my first acquaintance with German-language literature.
- I loved Narziss and Goldmund, and in the 40 years since “meeting” Hesse, it’s the only one I’ve ever reread and I love it more each time. I take from it, and like, the message that happiness comes from a balance between worldliness and spirituality.
- I mentioned ambivalence earlier and I think that’s proved by my not having reread anything other than Narciss and Goldmund during the last 4 decades. I did go and see an Italian opera of Siddhartha at the Edinburgh fringe a couple of years ago. The production was impressive but I was underwhelmed by the implications of the plot. Siddhartha may have renounced worldliness for the simple life, but in the course of reaching this destination, he left behind not one, but two pregnant women. Very dubious behaviour.
- After that experience, I doubt I would ever have picked up Hesse again without the encouragement of Hesse Reading Week. I want to read something new to me. I don’t have time for The Fairy Tales, so it looks like I’ll be reading Gertrude.
So now that I’ve spilled the beans, what about you?
Lizzy's Literary Life (Volume One) 
I was about the same age as you when I first encountered Hesse. It was required reading in my German lit class. We read Steppenwolf, and I really liked it. I went on to read his fairy tales, which I reread regularly and which never disappoint me. But my rereads stopped me from reading anything else by him, so last year, I finally read Siddharta. I was underwhelmed by it though. My younger self probably would have loved it. I started to read Demian for Hesse Week, and I hope I can finish in time. So far, so good…
That’s an interesting post.
My parents had his books, so my first acquaintance with him was on their shelves. It was Narziss und Goldmund and I was maybe 12. I then read him again at 16. Steppenwolf, Demian, Siddharta and later, at 20 his fairy tales.
My favourite is Narziss und Goldmund, which I reread at 29 or so. Why? Not sure. I just loved it. Then I didn’t read him until now and well – I’m torn. I love passages but a lot makes me roll my eyes. I think his spirituality is timeless but his thoughts on art and artists are dated.
What a good idea! I first read Hesse when I was about 22 – I think it was Demian and it was recommended by a friend as a good one to read as I was starting to explore European literature. I was so taken by Hesse that I read everything I could afterwards and I still have all the books on my shelves (and we’re talking from over 30 years ago….) To pick a favourite is really hard as I’ve discovered on my re-reading that I remember not a lot about them (a common complaint with books I read at that time) but of the recent re-reads I’m very fond of Steppenwolf. I’m revisiting that one and The Glass Bead Game for the reading week, but I’m intending to explore something new in the form of his poems.
I read The Glass Bead Game when I was about 26. I had never been made to read Hesse in school, but I had an idea that he was obscure and intimidating. Still, after multiple people recommended GBG I gave it a try and loved it. Then I read a few others (I’m afraid I can’t remember which) and enjoyed them, but didn’t do any rereading. I read the fairy tales for last year’s German Literature Challenege and that got me interested in reading him again. I’d like to try Narcissus and Goldmund, especially after your recommendation.
1. I can’t remember. I must have just come across his name at some point.
2. Probably late teens/early twenties – Steppenwolf.
3. I can’t remember anything about Steppenwolf other than I didn’t think much of it.
4.
5.
6. I’m currently reading Narziss and Goldmund – after about fifty pages I was prepared to throw it aside as it really irritated me – I’m still trying to work out why. I’ve continued though and it’s improved, but it’s not going to be one of my favourite books.
1. I don’t know who introduced me, but Hesse was very popular in the early 1970s in the U.S., and it may have been my older brother who gave me the nudge to try him.
2. I first read Steppenwolf at the age of 20. I was sick in the infirmary at my college and had nothing else to do but read this mind-blowing book. A huge memory for me.
3. I read Demian next, but not until 40 years later, but yes, it was informative.
4. I think I love both novels equally.
6. My next Hesse read will be Narcissus and Goldmund. Maybe I’ll read it in next November’s German Literature Month.
Judith (Reader in the Wilderness)