Collage - Journal 1932...

Collage - Journal 1932...

Thursday, October 22, 2009

A Philosophical Writer, Painter, and Poet - Hermann Hesse, (1877-1962).......

German-Swiss writer Hermann Hesse, born in Calw, Germany,awarded the Nobel Prize for "the most distinguished work of an idealistic tendency" in literature. Determined in early age "to be a poet or nothing" He did undertake psychoanalysis and Jungian psychology. His work found a new dimension reflected in; Demian (1919), Steppenwolf (1927), and Siddhartha (1922) -.... this book was an inspiration for me when I read it as a teenager ....Siddhartha, was not a follower of any but his own soul. ...one day years later after I had left my family home on my journeys...back for a short visit - I found an inscription in the book from my father...his reflection , perhaps an understanding.......

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We can easily follow the influence of Nietzsche, Dostoyevsky, and Buddhist mysticism and clearly find his journey into the inner self. His opinion of that man must express himself in order to find his own nature. A man of great intellect who followed his own path in life.

His grandfather had a deep interest in Far Eastern culture, and religion - this and the large family library inspired Hesse at an early age. Hesse traveled to the East in 1932. He moved to Switzerland in 1912, of which he became a naturalized citizen in 1923.

1 comment:

  1. i have just started reading a Hesse classic,Demian, and find this post to be extrememly helpful so, thanks!

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