Narcissus and Goldmund

Herman Hesse

Hermann Hesse is what many would call "a very important author." His books are heavy, not at all light. They are deep and philosophical. He is one of the first Western novelists to be profoundly influenced by mysticism and Eastern philosophy. Narcissus and Goldmund is a medieval tale, and heavily allegorical. The dual protagonists represent the two aspects of life, spirit and flesh, logic and emotion, or the philosopher and the artist. While the book is slow and ponderous at the beginning, its pulse quickens and almost becomes a "page-turner" as the action moves from the monastery to the secular world. In the last couple of chapters, the brilliance of Hesse shines through and the messages he conveys make this a very worthwhile book to read.

Review by Len Oppenheim

Hesse's novel of two medieval men, one quietly content with his religion and monastic life, the other in fervent search of more worldly salvation. This conflict between flesh and spirit, between emotional and contemplative man, was a life study for Hesse. It is a theme that transcends all time. The Hesse Phenomenon "has turned into a vogue, the vogue into a torrent… He has appealed both to… an underground and to an establishment… and to the disenchanted young sharing his contempt for our industrial civilization."

The New York Times Book Review