— Nobel Prize in Literature (1946)
In medieval Europe, two young men follow radically different paths in search of meaning and fulfillment. The disciplined scholar Narcissus devotes himself to intellect and spiritual order, while the restless Goldmund abandons the monastery to pursue beauty, love, and the experiences of the world. Through their contrasting journeys, Hermann Hesse explores the tension between reason and passion, mind and body, contemplation and art. Narcissus and Goldmund is a philosophical novel about friendship, self-discovery, and the enduring search for identity and meaning.
Date: 1930 (Switzerland)
Length: ~320 pages (varies by edition)
Cultural impact: ~1.350.000 copies (estimates)
Genre: Fiction,
Demian Steppenwolf Siddhartha Women Lolita Tale of Two cities
"A poetic novel unique in its purity and fascination" — Thomas Mann, Nobel Prize-winning German novelist
"Alone among modern writers, Hesse creates poetic landscapes in which human concerns and vivid characters are extraordinarily evoked… one of the most profound and magical novels published in our age" — Kirkus Reviews, prominent book review publication
"Narcissus and Goldmund is among his great titles... a damn good novel" — Jessica Schneider, literary critic and reviewer
"This is a classic novel that I will reach for again and again on my bookshelf... a novel with so many layers" — The Book Binder's Daughter, book reviewer and blogger
"Hesse's literary tryumph" | https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/jun/02/jenny-erpenbeck-theres-a-time-in-life-when-you-need-to-read-hermann-hesse — The Guardian
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