Steppenwolf - Hermann Hesse

Steppenwolf - Herman Hesse I love my books. I love reading them and I love seeing them on the shelves. I have a particular fondness for old books, ranging from the late Victorian hardbacks my Grandfather won at school in the 1890's to my 1960 James Bond paperbacks. I like to mix them up among the newer books to create an eclectic display, currently I have the Harry Potter series book ended by a 1967 Breakfast at Tiffany's and a first edition of Plato's Republic. The books I really love are the Penguin's from the 50's and 60's, the ones with the orange/white/orange covers. These have the advantage of usually being very good books in and of ...  Read the complete review

Steppenwolf by Heman Hesse tells the story of Harry Haller, a strange and lonely ageing figure who believes he is half wolf. The story is told from 3 different perspectives; the reports of a relative of Haller's landlady, a strange book given to Haller and Haller's own diaries. Haller initially seems a tragic figure, torn between the conflicting needs of the body and the spirit. It is somewhat freudian in this conflict; comparable to that described by the philosopher between the id (pleasure seeking) and the ego (imposed morality). This is carried further in the theme of Haller's belief that he is half wolf, the wolf representing his ...  Read the complete review

I found Steppenwolfe in a WHSmiths in a great big crowded shopping centre. I was alone, and tired, and wanted something to read with my coffee. On the back cover it said 'The hip bible of 1950s counter-culture.' and I thought, 'This one's for me.' I sat down and became mesmerised. This is the most amazing, feeling, indescribably wonderful book I have ever come accross. I am vacilliating because I am struggling over words to describe the impact it had on me. I couldn't stop telling people about it - everyone I knew I told. It gave me a philosophy, it let me understand myself. It changed my life. Not drastically, but it gave me a ...  Read the complete review