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Hesse

The Wanderer and His Shadow
By Gunnar Decker
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4.18 goodreads logo

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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
Hesse by Gunnar Decker is a compelling biography of Hermann Hesse, the author of Siddhartha, Steppenwolf, and Demian. Against the backdrop of Nazi oppression and the rise of consumer culture, Hesse's work champions nonconformity and a search for universal meaning. Decker draws on newly discovered letters and psychoanalytic correspondence to explore Hesse's internal struggles, his alienation, and his complicated relationships, providing fresh insights into the man behind the iconic novels that inspired the 1960s counterculture and remain relevant today.
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Format: Hardback
$8099
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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 biography is ideally suited for readers interested in literary history, biography enthusiasts, and those fascinated by the cultural and psychological contexts of 20th-century literature. Fans of Hermann Hesse's work and readers drawn to spiritual and philosophical themes will also find this book compelling.

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Against Nazi dictatorship,the disillusionment of Weimar, and Christian austerity, Hermann Hesse’s stories inspired a nonconformist yearning for universal values to supplant fanaticism in all its guises. He reenters our world through Gunnar Decker’s biography—a champion of spiritual searching in the face of mass culture and the disenchanted life.

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 deftly crafted biography of the author of Siddhartha, whose critique of consumer culture continues to inspire millions of readers.

Against the horrors of Nazi dictatorship and widespread disillusionment with the forces of mass culture and consumerism, Hermann Hesse's stories inspired nonconformity and a yearning for universal values. Few today would doubt Hesse's artistry or his importance to millions of devoted readers. But just who was the author of Siddhartha, Steppenwolf, and Demian?

Gunnar Decker weaves together previously unavailable sources to offer a unique interpretation of the life and work of Hermann Hesse. Drawing on recently discovered correspondence between Hesse and his psychoanalyst Josef Lang, Decker shows how Hesse reversed the traditional roles of therapist and client, and rethinks the relationship between Hesse's novels and Jungian psychoanalysis. He also explores Hesse's correspondence with Stefan Zweig—recently unearthed—to find the source of Hesse's profound sense of alienation from his contemporaries.

Decker's biography brings to life this icon of spiritual searching and disenchantment who galvanized the counterculture in the 1960s and feels newly relevant today.

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?

Critics praise Decker's biography for its insightful and richly detailed portrayal of Hesse's complex personality and literary genius. Adam Kirsch notes the tension between Hesse's spiritual ideals and personal life, while P. D. Smith calls it a "wonderfully rich, insightful biography" that is likely to become definitive. Mark Harman commends the engaging narrative and translation, highlighting its appeal to both longtime fans and new readers.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780674737884

Publisher: Harvard University Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 05 November 2018

Country: United States

Imprint: Harvard University Press

Illustration: 40 photos

Contributors:

  • Translated by Peter Lewis
  • Translated by Peter Lewis

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Width: 162.0mm

Height: 235.0mm

Weight: 0g

Pages: 800

Collections

Biography & Memoir European History Gunnar Decker History & Archaeology History & Military Musicians, Movie Stars & Creative Biographies Non-Fiction

About the Author

Gunnar Decker is the author of numerous biographies, including works on Francis of Assisi, Vincent van Gogh, Rainer Maria Rilke, Ernst Jünger, and Georg Trakl. He is also a film and theater critic, and the editor of the journal Theater der Zeit.

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