When New Directions decided to publish the first English translation of Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha in 1951, it could not have foreseen the enormous impact it would have on American culture. When one Harvard graduate was asked in 1968 why he appreciated Hesse, the response was, “Well, he was the first hippie, wasn’t he?” Photo courtesy of Hastrup. Hermann Hesse, “My Belief,” 1931 Portrait of the artist in 1911, the year he traveled to India. Morris that discusses the impact Siddhartha has had on American culture.I have not only occasionally made a confession of belief in essays, but once, a little more than ten years ago, attempted to set forth my belief in a book. Also included is an extensive introduction by Paul W. Sherab Chödzin Kohn’s flowing, poetic translation conveys the philosophical and spiritual nuances of Hesse’s text, paying special attention to the qualities of meditative experience. Siddhartha blends in with the world, showing the reader the beauty and intricacies of the mind, nature, and his experiences on the path to enlightenment. Handsome, well-loved, and growing increasingly dissatisfied with the life expected of him, he then sets out on his journey, not realizing that he is fulfilling the prophesies proclaimed at his birth. We first meet Siddhartha as a privileged brahmin’s son. Kohn invites readers along Siddhartha’s spiritual journey–experiencing his highs and lows, loves and disappointments along the way. Here is a fresh translation of the classic Herman Hesse novel, from Sherab Chödzin Kohn–a gifted translator and longtime student of Buddhism and Eastern philosophy. Nobel Prize-winning author: This classic of 20th-century literature chronicles the spiritual evolution of a man living in India at the time of the Buddha–a tale that has inspired generations of readers
One America’s Favorite Books, PBS’s The Great American Read
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