Hermann Hesse is one of those writers I've long known about - who hasn't, right? - but have no clue as to what it is he actually writes about. His most famous novel, Steppenwolf, always makes me think of the late 60s band ("Born to be Wild") and so I've long associated Hesse with some sort of counter culture movement. In fact, it's probably these associations that has stopped me from reading Hesse. I've vaguely presumed that Hesse's novels, especially Steppenwolf, are depressing.
It's an interesting exercise, isn't it, to read an author you've long had preconceived ideas about and to find out the truth of the matter. What a joy it has been to discover Siddhartha.
The story is quite simple. A young man, Siddhartha, goes on a spiritual quest. He leaves his father's house with his good friend Govinda and joins a group of wayfaring ascetics, the Samanas. Filled with doubts and questions, both Siddhartha and Govinda join a holy man named Gautama. Gautama is the Buddha, the enlightened one. Still not satisfied, Siddhartha moves on to follow his own path, leaving Govinda behind.
Suffering a spiritual crisis, Siddhartha decides to join the material world and live as everyone else does. He meets and lives with the courtesan Kamala. He spends many years living this life, but then again has an about face when he meets a ferryman. He eschews wealth and worldly pleasures for the simple wisdom of tending to the river.
Siddhartha is one of those magical books that are as vital, as energetic and enlivening, as life itself. Because Hesse discusses issues that are so important to all of us - the right way to live, how to cope with life's suffering, the ultimate meaning of life - the book cannot help but to have an urgency and deep connection with the reader. Hesse also writes in a simple, beautiful, poetic language that is true and pure.
It's so exciting to discover a great new writer. I'll look forward to trying some of Hesse's other novels soon.
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