Hermann Hesse

"Written in a prose of almost biblical simplicity and beauty, Siddhartha is the story of a soul's long quest for the answer to the enigma of man's role on earth. As a youth, the young Indian Siddhartha meets the Buddha but isn't content with the disciple's role. He must work out his own destiny-- a torturous road on which he experiences a love affair with the beautiful courtesan Kamala, the temptation of success and riches, the heartache of struggling...

Narcissus and Goldmund is the story of a passionate yet uneasy friendship between two men of opposite character. Narcissus, an ascetic instructor at a cloister school, has devoted himself solely to scholarly and spiritual pursuits. One of his students is the sensual, restless Goldmund, who is immediately drawn to his teacher's fierce intellect and sense of discipline. When Narcissus persuades the young student that he is not meant for a

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A brilliant psychological portrait of a troubled young manb2ss quest for self-awareness, this coming-of-age novel achieved instant critical and popular acclaim upon its 1919 publication. A landmark in the history of 20th-century literature, it reflects the authorb2ss preoccupation with the duality of human nature and the pursuit of spiritual fullfillment. Excellent new English translation. Introduction.

The story of the passionately mystical life of Saint Francis of Assisi. The decadent son of a wealthy, 13th-century Italian merchant, Francesco experienced a religious awakening and set an enduring example of devotion and sacrifice.