Demian
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4.4 • 116 Ratings
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- $0.99
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- $0.99
Publisher Description
"All I really wanted was to try and live the life that was spontaneously welling up within me. Why was that so very difficult?"
Generations of readers have recognized the impassioned cry that introduces the young narrator of Demian, and embraced this tale of a troubled young man's struggle toward self-awareness. Initially published in Berlin in 1919, the novel met with instant critical acclaim, as well as great popular success among people seeking answers amid the devastating aftermath of World War I.
A brilliant psychological portrait of an individual's departure from social conventions in the search for spiritual fulfillment, Demian encompasses many of the themes associated with Hermann Hesse, its Noble Prize–winning author, particularly the duality of human nature and the quest for inner peace.
Considered an important work in the evolution of 20th-century European literature, this perceptive coming-of-age novel enjoys a particular resonance with young adults, a fact that has made Demian a perennial favorite in schools and colleges all over the world. This inexpensive edition, featuring an excellent new English translation, is sure to be welcomed by teachers and students, and by the legions of confirmed Hesse fans.
Customer Reviews
Good
Good book
A Tale of Demise
It starts out very interestingly on the idea of the duality of good and evil in the world and paints a beautiful picture of morality that sadly dwindles and decays over the course of the book. Making me hope for the eventual return to morality. Alas my anticipation is denied as he instead delves ever deeper into the “other world”. Critically it is well written, it’s a shame that the path Sinclair takes is of questionable ethicality.
Boring and Redundant
A friend loaned me her copy, so I decided to give Demian a go. Let me start by saying that I’ve read Hesse’s Siddhartha and found it interesting…. This one, not so much. I was completely underwhelmed by Demian, especially after seeing so many positive reviews online. I know this book is meant to be philosophical, but I just felt so disengaged the entire time. I found that the lack of real events surrounding the character’s self-discovery journey made the whole story boring; I don’t like reading 100+ pages of what’s essentially a diary when the person’s life really isn’t that interesting in the first place. It’s possible that this book is great and just wasn’t for me, but I’m not going to be actively recommending this story to anyone 🤷🏼♀️