Hermann Hesse

Siddhartha - Bilingual Edition, German & English Hermann Hesse

Publisher Marketing: Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha is a literary classic. It continues to be the most popular of the many novels by the prolific Nobel Prize laureate. The touching story of one man's search for the meaning of life, for enlightenment and knowledge is related with a graceful simplicity that is common only to great literature. From the original German, Siddhartha has been translated into most of the world's languages and has enjoyed great success. Hesse's style of writing - clear, straightforward and direct - has made the tale of Siddhartha's search for truth and wisdom accessible to a wide variety of readers around the globe. To assist students, scholars and others who might be interested in a better understanding of Hesse's elegantly simple prose, this bilingual edition has been assembled with the English translation on the facing page mirroring the German text paragraph by paragraph. Those familiar with both languages will appreciate the opportunity to read this great work in both languages and will surely marvel at the directness with which Hermann Hesse's German translates into English. Those not familiar with both languages will be surprised at how very similar the two languages are. Those wishing to improve their own language skills, in either language, could hardly choose a better example of fine writing than that of Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha. Contributor Bio:  Hesse, Hermann When this German novelist, poet, and essayist publicly denounced the savagery and hatred of World War I, he was considered a traitor. He moved to Switzerland where he eventually became a naturalized citizen. He warned of the advent of World War II, predicting that cultureless efficiency would destroy the modern world. His theme is the conflict between the elements of a person's dual nature and the problem of spiritual loneliness. His first novel, Peter Camenzind, was published in 1904. His masterpiece, Death and the Lover (1930), contrasts a scholarly abbot and his beloved pupil, who leaves the monastery for the adventurous world. Steppenwolf (1927), a European bestseller, was published when defeated Germany had begun to plan for another war. It is the story of Haller, who recognizes in himself the blend of the human and wolfish traits of the completely sterile scholarly project. Hesse won the Nobel Prize in 1946. During the 1960s Hesse became a favorite writer of the counter culture, especially in the United States, though his critical reputation has never equaled his popularity. Hermann Hesse died in 1962.