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Steppenwolf

By Hermann Hesse
Series: Penguin Modern Classics
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse explores the dual nature of its protagonist, Harry Haller, a reclusive intellectual who struggles with his internal conflict between his human and wolfish instincts. Set against the backdrop of post-World War I Europe, the novel delves into themes of existential angst and self-discovery, as Harry embarks on a surreal journey that blurs the line between reality and fantasy. Through his encounters with various characters, he is compelled to confront his desire for meaning and connection in a fragmented world.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're intrigued by the exploration of the duality of human nature and the search for meaning in a fragmented world. With a blend of existential themes and a journey through the psyche, it offers a deep reflection on individuality and society, perfect for those who enjoy introspective and thought-provoking reads.

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At first sight Harry Haller seems a respectable, educated man. In reality he is the Steppenwolf: wild, strange, alienated from society and repulsed by the modern age. But as he is drawn into a series of dreamlike and sometimes savage encounters - accompanied by, among others, Mozart, Goethe and the bewitching Hermione.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A new translation of this counterculture classic by David Horrocks.

At first sight, Harry Haller seems like a respectable, educated man. In reality, he is the Steppenwolf—wild, strange, alienated from society, and repulsed by the modern age. But as he is drawn into a series of dreamlike and sometimes savage encounters—accompanied by, among others, Mozart, Goethe, and the bewitching Hermione—the misanthropic Haller discovers a higher truth and the possibility of happiness.

This haunting portrayal of a man who feels he is half-human and half-wolf became a counterculture classic for a disaffected generation. Yet it is also a story of redemption and an intricately structured modernist masterpiece. This is the first new translation of Steppenwolf for over eighty years, returning to the fresh, authentic language of Hesse's original.

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Steppenwolf is often regarded as a profound and intricate exploration of a man's internal conflict and existential crisis, capturing the diseased state of his soul. The New York Times describes it as a gripping and fascinating narrative that delves deep into the complexities of human nature and transformation.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141192093

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 April 2012

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by David Horrocks

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 205g

Pages: 272

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Classic Fiction Fiction General Fiction Hermann Hesse In Stock Books In-Stock Fiction Books Literary Fiction New Release Fiction New Zealand's Best Selling Books Penguin Books Penguin Classics Series: Penguin Modern Classics

About the Author

Herman Hesse was born in southern Germany in 1877. Hesse concentrated on writing poetry as a young man, but his first successful book was a novel, Peter Camenzind (1904). During the war, Hesse was actively involved in relief efforts. Depression, criticism for his pacifist views, and a series of personal crises led Hesse to undergo psychoanalysis with J. B. Lang. Out of these years came Demian (1919), a novel whose main character is torn between the orderliness of bourgeois existence and the turbulent and enticing world of sensual experience. This dichotomy is prominent in Hesse's subsequent novels, including Siddhartha (1922), Steppenwolf (1927), and Narcissus and Goldmund (1930). Hesse worked on his magnum opus, The Glass Bead Game (1943), for twelve years. This novel was specifically cited when he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1946. Hesse died at his home in Switzerland in 1962.

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