Product Description

Hesse's novel of two medieval men, one quietly  content with his religion and monastic life, the  other in fervent search of more worldly salvation.  This conflict between flesh and spirit, between  emotional and contemplative man, was a life study for  Hesse. It is a theme that transcends all time.  The Hesse Phenomenon "has turned into a vogue,  the vogue into a torrent. . .He has appealed both  to. . . an underground and to an establishment. .  .and to the disenchanted young sharing his contempt  for our industrial  civilization."--The New York Times Book Review

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Herman Hesse        Rating:

If you haven't read any Hesse, do it now. This is a great book in his canon of literature. Book arrived within projected delivery date in condition advertised. Thank you.

The search for salvation foiled by the duality in our existence        Rating:

The author through Goldmund and Narcissus finds duality everywhere: "...either a women or a man, a wanderer or sedentary burgher...", "...either a thinker or an artist...". There seems to be no in between for Herman Hesse: "All existence seemed to be based on duality, contrast." , "...no one could...experience freedom as well as order, combine instinct and mind." This may or may not be the most valid or practical view of life but duality and contrast create tension and that's what you need for a good story. And if you are a gifted writer an appealing tale can be told about two monks struggling to resolve this eternal tension. That is what Hermann Hesse did (and much more that I have failed to mention).

The search for salvation foiled by the duality in our existence        Rating:

The author through Goldmund and Narcissus finds duality everywhere: "...either a women or a man, a wanderer or sedentary burgher...", "...either a thinker or an artist...". There seems to be no in between for Herman Hesse: "All existence seemed to be based on duality, contrast." , "...no one could...experience freedom as well as order combine instinct and mind." This may or may not be the most valid or practical view of life but duality and contrast creates tension and that's what you need for a good story. And if you are gifted writer an appealing tale can be told about two monks struggling to resolve eternal tensions. That is what Hermann Hesse did (and much more that I have failed to mention).

Needs more of Narcissus        Rating:

This book has tension and will keep you turning pages. However I found
the character of Goldmund unbelievable
and he began to get on my nerves, obviously he was a fantasy self image of
Hesse himself. Although I believe Hesse imagined himself perfect combining all the talents of Narcissus and Goldmun. Or the bourgeois and the anarchist from Steppenwolf or Mao and Mother Teresa = pseudo intellectual leftie.

Still it is quite a good read. As another reviewer pointed out the author
gets bogged down a little bit too much in his own philosophy but nothing compared to authors such as Arduous Huxley or Saul Bellows.

You will never forget the characters---for that it gets 3 stars. Best sellers have such formula stereotyped characters you only have a desire to forget
them.

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