Home > Hermann Hesse

Hesse's interests in existential, spiritual, and mystical themes and Buddhist and Hindu philosophy may be seen in his works.

Born on July 2, 1877 in Calw, Württemberg, Hesse emigrated to Switzerland in 19121912 is a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar) Events January 1 Establishment of Republic of China. January 6 New Mexico is admitted as the 47th U. January 17 British polar explorer Robert Falcon Scott and a team of four begin the and in 1923Centuries: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 Events January 1 Grouping of all UK railway companies into four larg became a Swiss citizen.

A staunch pacifistPacifism is opposition to the practice of war. Many (but not all) pacifists have a commitment to non-violence in general in society, making a commitment to achieving one's goals only through actively non-violent resistance or non- aggressive means. Other, Hesse opposed World War IWorld War I (also known as the First World War , the Great War the War of the Nations and the "War to End All Wars") was a world conflict occurring from 1914 to 1918. No previous conflict had mobilized so many soldiers, or involved so many in the field of strongly, the residual fallout of his feelings towards war can be seen in many of his books. During World War IIWorld War II was the most extensive and costly armed conflict in the history of the world, involving the great majority of the world's nations, being fought simultaneously in several major theatres, and costing tens of millions of lives. The war was fough his writings found strange allies. German propagandist Joseph GoebbelsPaul Joseph Goebbels ( October 29, 1897 May 1, 1945) was Adolf Hitler's Propaganda Minister (see Propagandaministerium in Nazi Germany. He came from a Catholic family, like many of the Nazi leaders. He was a prominent figure of the regime, known for his g initially defended Hesse's books, and as a result he was allowed to continue writing unmolested. However, after he demanded that certain portions in his book Narcissus and Goldmund dealing with pogromThe Russian word pogrom ("") denotes a massive violent attack on people with simultaneous destruction of their environment (homes, businesses, religious centers). Historically the term has been used to denote massive acts of violence, either spontaneous os be untouched, he found himself on the Nazi's blacklist. Despite this ominous bidding Hesse escaped World War II unharmed.

A prominent feature of many of his books, Hesse had many problems throughout his life with women. His first marriage with Maria Bernoulli, from whom he had three children, ended sadly, his wife having mental problems. His second marriage was apparently a brief flame with Ruth Wenger, lasting only a few months. He finally married Ninon Dolbin in 1931, and remained with her for the rest of his life.

He developed a certain conservatism in his later life - in Das Glasperlenspiel, characters denounce all music after Johann Sebastian Bach as superficial and bad, with Ludwig van Beethoven being an extreme example of bad taste.

Das Glasperlenspiel, with its William Morris-like idealised medieval style was extremely popular in the war-torn Germany of 1945.

He died of cerebral hemorrhage in his sleep in Montagnola at the age of 85.