Steppenwolf: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Hesse as Consummate Artist
Review: Of staggering beauty, Hesse's Steppenwolf never ceases to amaze the careful reader with its stunning subtle myriad of revelations. Perhaps the most remarkable of accomplishments from a purely technical standpoint in this novel is Hesse's ability to juxtapose two novels and make them seem to be one. The first novel centers around Haller as Artist, the purist, the idealist, and so the novel reflects the philosophical in man with all of the purist trappings it brings. The second novel swirls around both Haller and Hermine whom, I contend, is simply the feminine within Haller--his alter ego--and so the novel reflects the tempestuous relationship with its dazzling mingling of jazz dancing in early 20th-century Europe and surrealism. Hesse can, therefore, be seen as having found, even at the very highest level of structuring in his novel, the ability to display the innate division in the artist, his instinctive schizophrenia which, for the unlucky, must lead to the destruction of one side, and, for the less so, to the immortal laughter of Pablo and Mozart. A brilliant work, worthy of highest praise.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful for everyone
Review: Steppenwolf found a woman in his bed...and slept with her. Steppenwolf is a lazy, old hag. Steppenwolf is bisexual...Yet Steppenwolf is normal. Anyone would have slept with that woman. Everyone is lazy, everyone is old. Everyone is bisexual (Steppenwolf would not admit it, either). Steppenwolf is each and everyone. But Steppenwolf accepts everyone as they are, should they desire to be accepted. Steppenwolf reviews and ponders each and every aspect of life carefully. Steppenwolf is a thinker. Steppenwolf is every thinker. Yet Steppenwolf is in dire need of guidance...but so is everyone. Steppenwolf is Hermann Hesse's story of a fifty-year-old man named Harry Haller, who goes by the name Steppenwolf. A Steppenwolf is "a wolf of the Steppes" (Hesse 40). A Steppenwolf is half man, half wolf; half good, half evil; half Harry, half beast. He dreads living, and just prior to losing all desire to live, he enters a bar/dance hall, where he meets a lady. He surrenders to her every wish, yet denies loving her. The boyish feeling of non-responsibility overwhelms him. Steppenwolf is about the quest for happiness, peace, and joy. Harry follows every instruction of this lady in search of this happiness. He learns to dance, learns to love, learns to remember the happy days of youth. But will he learn to laugh? The actual novel is two parts: the introduction - written by the nephew of Steppenwolf's landlady - and the records that the nephew found of Harry, written by Harry. The introduction overviews the story, though it takes away some surprise that would have come without the introduction. The second part, entitled Harry Haller's Records, is an autobiography of Harry. It presented a difficult task for Hesse because it was written in past tense. Hesse had to prevent Harry from being slanted by the events between the past of which he was narrating and the time of the narration. Hesse succeeded, creating a genuine feeling of immediacy. Steppenwolf is a beautiful novel. Perhaps this is because it is a ! story for everyone. For men, it is a story of a neurotic lunatic coming across one of his own kind, with well-narrated, raw sex and commotion and violence and murder. For women, it is a beautiful love story with elaborate descriptions of beautiful art and music, passion, and eloquent dancing. For intellectuals, it is a unique, well-organized fable with believable fiction and unprecedented imagery. For the simple-minded, it is a story of a troubled elder searching for peace. For critics, it is an opportunity to give an astounding review... Steppenwolf is a fantastic reality of aging, loving, dying, and living. Quite interesting is how oxymoronic the novel is. It explains the necessity to age, yet keys to staying young; the need for war to obtain peace. It is a serious, elaborate story that suggests that everyone simply laugh at life. Steppenwolf found a woman in his bed...and slept with her. Steppenwolf is a lazy, old hag. Steppenwolf is bisexual...Yet Steppenwolf is normal. Anyone would have slept with that woman. Everyone is lazy, everyone is old. Everyone is bisexual (Steppenwolf would not admit it, either). Steppenwolf is each and everyone. But Steppenwolf accepts everyone as they are, should they desire to be accepted. Steppenwolf reviews and ponders each and every aspect of life carefully. Steppenwolf is a thinker. Steppenwolf is every thinker. Yet Steppenwolf is in dire need of guidance...but so is everyone. Steppenwolf is Hermann Hesse's story of a fifty-year-old man named Harry Haller, who goes by the name Steppenwolf. A Steppenwolf is "a wolf of the Steppes" (Hesse 40). A Steppenwolf is half man, half wolf; half good, half evil; half Harry, half beast. He dreads living, and just prior to losing all desire to live, he enters a bar/dance hall, where he meets a lady. He surrenders to her every wish, yet denies loving her. The boyish feeling of non-responsibility overwhelms him. Steppenwolf is about the quest for happiness, peace, and joy. Harry follows every instruction of this lady in! search of this happiness. He learns to dance, learns to love, learns to remember the happy days of youth. But will he learn to laugh? The actual novel is two parts: the introduction - written by the nephew of Steppenwolf's landlady - and the records that the nephew found of Harry, written by Harry. The introduction overviews the story, though it takes away some surprise that would have come without the introduction. The second part, entitled Harry Haller's Records, is an autobiography of Harry. It presented a difficult task for Hesse because it was written in past tense. Hesse had to prevent Harry from being slanted by the events between the past of which he was narrating and the time of the narration. Hesse succeeded, creating a genuine feeling of immediacy. Steppenwolf is a beautiful novel. Perhaps this is because it is a story for everyone. For men, it is a story of a neurotic lunatic coming across one of his own kind, with well-narrated, raw sex and commotion and violence and murder. For women, it is a beautiful love story with elaborate descriptions of beautiful art and music, passion, and eloquent dancing. For intellectuals, it is a unique, well-organized fable with believable fiction and unprecedented imagery. For the simple-minded, it is a story of a troubled elder searching for peace. For critics, it is an opportunity to give an astounding review... Steppenwolf is a fantastic reality of aging, loving, dying, and living. Quite interesting is how oxymoronic the novel is. It explains the necessity to age, yet keys to staying young; the need for war to obtain peace. It is a serious, elaborate story that suggests that everyone simply laugh at life.

Rating:
Summary: A journey of the soul from darkness to revelation
Review: Harry Haller is fast approaching fifty and his life has hit a brick wall.One day he finds the Treatise on the Steppenwolf, which helps explain his predicament.Part of him is staid, proper and middle class, the other part is like a wild wolf.He can't reconcile these two conflicting sides of himself.He then meets the exciting and elusive Hermine who aids him in his crisis.The laid-back jazz musician Pablo and the amorous Maria help Harry break down his inhibitions.The climax of the novel is Harry's visit to the Magic Theatre (price of entry your mind) after the revels of a masked ball.Here, dream,fantasy and reality all merge, breaking up Harry's normal perceptions and personality, allowing him to recreate himself.He realizes that he has many selves, and is no longer tied down to his respectable, middle class self.This novel is a poetic exploration of the soul from darkness to light, from ignorance to revelation.There is simply no other like it.A true classic: don't miss it!

Rating:
Summary: It is about a man descovering "the Magic Theater of the Self
Review: When people talk about this book they usually say more about themself that the book. It is a discovery of the transpersonal levels of the Self, and of a possible resolution to half enlightened souls. The book is an expression of more than one level of Being.

Rating:
Summary: Your life will change forever after you read this book
Review: From Nobel Price Herman Hesse, Steppenwoolf is his masterwork. At the time of publishing, it became a cult book. Half a century later, this book remains a masterpiece and the central character is as current as it was then. It is the story of a man consumed by anguish, isolated, reclusive at odds with the world and its people.We do not know too much about him, except that in the chapter called "The treatise of the Steppenwoolf" Hesse presents a psychological description of depression,isolation, anguish and anger that has been unsurpassed by the masters of psychology.As the story unfolds, Harry meets a young woman that is a able to enjoy life. Through the interactions with her, harry learns to "smell the flowers", and through several surrealistic experiences, he recalls his past and evolves into a different person.This book is so simple to read and at the same time so profound and impacting that I recommend it as a must read. Better appreciated if you have some life experience. If you read it at coll

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Summary: A thought provoking look a society--from the outside in.
Review: The Steppenwolf is a man who deeply feels the inner turmoil of Nature vs. Society. The simple story is complicated by a network of interwoven themes, which meet in the end... in the Magic Theater. The book is beautifully written and the philosophy not quite so heavy handed as some of Hesse's others. It is certainly among his finest. It left me pondering the Steppenwolf inside of me. And has me still wondering: is it possible to have genius without being mad

Rating:
Summary: If you want to be a rebel...
Review: Before the hippies there was Hermann Hesse. The rebellion and the dream of peace is registered in his books more than in any song of 60's. His Steppenwolf is a despairing cry, an appalling hope and a sensuous hymn, everything at the same time. It is the end of belief in man and in future, but not in a depressing tone. The book talks to our spirit now, more than ever, because it is the story of a lost man and his struggle to find new ways in life, through life, just like our times.

Rating:
Summary: If you are college age or older, READ THIS BOOK!
Review: Beyond a classic, this is Hesse's story of a man who sees the folly of life and the lies he himself believes. At times light and airy, the main character deals with his past and the pusedo intellectuals of his day. He finds friendship and love (the wolf howls).

Rating:
Summary: duality
Review: Good book overall, Hermann Hesse seems to overlook the fact that the mystic concepts were created in Africa, he gives a lot of credit to the Asian, the root is in Africa. Also his writing is borderline homosexual. For those who are tired of basic organized religion, Hermann Hesse books are ones to make you think out of the box.

Rating:
Summary: A Nietzschean Novel
Review: Coming from a philosophy background, with a predominant interest in Nietzsche, I find it hard to ignore the numerous aspects of Nietzsche in "Steppenwolf". Viewing the self as a multiplicity, favoring humor over seriousness, recognition of life's suffering while striving to overcome it, anti-nationalism-- are all major themes of Nietzsche and each of these views is voiced in the novel. As every true pupil of Nietzsche's is instructed Hesse takes Nietzschean themes as a ground and develops them in his own way and without any strict adherence to Nietzsche's philosophy. As a novel of ideas Hesse's Steppenwolf demonstrates a philosophy of life that cannot be captured within the confines of a stereotypical philosophical treatise. This novel is a breath of fresh air for anyone searching for meaning or anyone who is not content to be told how to feel or what to believe. This is the first Herman Hesse novel I have read and will surely not be the last.