Hermann Hesse

Hermann Hesse (July 2, 1877 ? August 9, 1962) was a German author, and the winner of the 1946 Nobel Prize in Literature. He is most famous for his novels Steppenwolf, Das Glasperlenspiel (The Glass Bead Game), and Siddhartha.

Related Topics:
July 2 - 1877 - August 9 - 1962 - German author - 1946 - Nobel Prize in Literature - Novel - Steppenwolf - The Glass Bead Game - Siddhartha

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Hesse's interests in existential, spiritual, and mystical themes and Buddhist and Hindu philosophy may be seen in his works.

Related Topics:
Existential - Spiritual - Mystical - Buddhist - Hindu - Philosophy

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Born in the Black Forest town of Calw, Württemberg, Hesse emigrated to Switzerland in 1912, becoming a Swiss citizen in 1923. A staunch pacifist, Hesse opposed World War I strongly. The residual fallout of his feelings towards war can be seen in many of his books. During World War II, his writings found strange allies. The German propagandist Joseph Goebbels initially defended Hesse's books, and as a result Hesse was allowed to continue writing unmolested. However, after he demanded that certain portions in his book Narcissus and Goldmund dealing with pogroms be left untouched, Hesse found himself on the Nazis' blacklist. Despite this ominous situation, Hesse escaped World War II unharmed.

Related Topics:
Calw - Württemberg - Switzerland - 1912 - 1923 - Pacifist - World War I - War - World War II - Propagandist - Joseph Goebbels - Pogrom

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Like a number of his characters, Hesse had many problems throughout his life with women. His first marriage with Maria Bernoulli, with whom he had three children, ended sadly, his wife having mental problems. His second marriage was apparently a brief fling with Ruth Wenger, lasting only a few months. He finally married Ninon Dolbin in 1931 and remained with her for the rest of his life.

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Hesse developed a certain conservatism in his later life. In Das Glasperlenspiel, characters denounce all music after Johann Sebastian Bach as superficial and bad, with Ludwig van Beethoven being an extreme example of bad taste. Das Glasperlenspiel, with its William Morris-like idealised medieval style, was extremely popular in the war-torn Germany of 1945.

Related Topics:
Das Glasperlenspiel - Johann Sebastian Bach - Ludwig van Beethoven - William Morris - Medieval - 1945

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Hesse died of cerebral hemorrhage in his sleep in Montagnola at the age of 85. The famed German missionary Rev. Dr. Hermann Gundert was the grandfather of Hermann Hesse.

Related Topics:
Montagnola - Missionary - Hermann Gundert

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