Hermann Hesse's moving and inspirational chronicle of spiritual evolution, Siddhartha, includes a new introduction by bestselling author Paulo Coehlo in Penguin Classics.
One of the most influential writers of our time, Paulo Coelho is the author of many international best sellers, including The Alchemist, Adultery and The Spy. He is a member of the Brazilian Academy of Letters and has received the Chevalier de l'Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur. In 2007, he was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace.
Siddhartha's life takes him on a journey toward enlightenment. Afire with youthful idealism, the Brahmin joins a group of ascetics, fasting and living without possessions. Meeting Gotama the Buddha, he comes to feel this is not the right path, though he also declines joining the Buddha's followers. He reenters the world, hoping to learn of his own nature, but instead slips gradually into hedonism and materialism. Surfeited and disgusted, he flees from his possessions to become a ferryman's apprentice, learning what lessons he can from the river itself. Herman Hesse's 1922 Bildungsroman parallels the life of Buddha and seems to argue that lessons of this sort cannot be taught but come from one's own struggle to find truth. Noted actor Derek Jacobi interprets this material wonderfully, and the package, despite abridging a Nobel prize winner's prose, can be highly recommended.ÄJohn Hiett, Iowa City P.L.
A subtle distillation of wisdom, stylistic grace and symmetry of
form * The Sunday Times *
A writer of genius * The Times *
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