Siddhartha

SIDDHARTHA

by Hermann Hesse

 

Award: Nobel Prize Winner 1922

 

Date Read: April 17, 2004

 

Kirkus Reviews: 

“A serene "classic novel" about a spiritual journey through Indian mysticism -- a smooth, bland entity for a special audience by the author of Steppenwolf and winner of the 1946 Nobel Prize. This is the story of the young Brahmin, Siddhartha, and his progress from arrogant asceticism, through abandonment to the senses, rebirth of spiritual vigor, deep human grief, to an appreciation of the unity and beauty of all things, a unity in which words and thoughts appear as shadows. The style reflects this discovery of the timeless rooted in the nature of time- the author's stringent, economical phrasing with its careful rhythms lends the book an air of studied antiquity, refreshing, yet, oddly, new.”

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