Rupa & Co/New Delhi/India; Eighth Impression edition (January 1, 2007)
Edition
Hardcover
Book Description
Siddhartha (first published in 1922) is a novel based on the early life of Buddha,inspired by the author's visit to India before the First World War.The novel is about the young brahmin Siddhartha's search for self- realisation.Disturbed by the contradictions between his comfortable life and the harsh reality around,he takes to the life of wanderer.But an ascetic life,and shunning all temprations,does not give him a sense of fulfilment either.Despairing of his condition,he goes to the riverbank,sitting there quietly.And then in the silence,he could hear himself,his inner self.In the end he graps the wholeness of life,experiencing the sense of fulfilment and wisdom which come with it.Written in a simple style,Siddhartha is considered a classic work dealing with the meaning of life.
About the Author
Herman Hesse (1877-1962) was one of the great literary figures of the twentieth century.Born in Calw to a protestant family,he rebelled against the classical education that he received in Swabian monastery schools.Hesse began work as a locksmith and a bookseller,and later took to writing as a profession.Settled in Switzerland,he travelled extensively,including India.Politically,Hesse was opposed to German militarism,for which he was condemned by the Nazi government.In recognition of his contribution to literature,he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1946.His other classic works include Der Steppenwolf and The Glass Bead Game.
