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Post by stephen on Nov 18, 2016 15:51:14 GMT
I have finally read what is regarded as Herman Hesse's magnum opus The Glass Bead Game. I have had my copy for 38 years, I have to confess, but never felt like tackling it. I read and loved most of Hesse's other works in the 1970s into the 1980s: they were a significant influence on my occult philosophy and I still value them. Have to say that The Glass Bead Game was a bit like hard work and I found it oddly anachronistic as well; however, it did have its stimulations.
My purpose here is to speculate what Kenneth Grant may have thought about the work of Herman Hesse, or indeed, whether he read him, especially when his novels were all coming back into English print in the 1970s as part of the period's quest for mysticism and meaning. Possibly, Grant may have found Hesse's treatment of Eastern Mysticism rather romantic or sentimental given his own deep grounding in the subject.
So, a question here for Michael really. Did Kenneth possess any of Hesse's novels among the volumes of his library?
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Post by Michael Staley on Nov 19, 2016 11:25:57 GMT
Kenneth's library includes just the one, Steppenwolf, in a Penguin Modern Classics edition of 1973. Of course, he may have read others, but not retained them in his library. Kenneth kept notes on those books he read which he found of interest; there are many such notes extant, and a few years ago I catalogued them, but cannot recall seeing notes on Steppenwolf.
I read a lot of Hesse in the 1970s. Though I found The Glass Bead Game interesting, like you I found it heavy going overall. My favourite remains Steppenwolf, a novel which had a revolutionary impact on the course of my life.
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Post by stephen on Nov 21, 2016 11:08:43 GMT
Thanks for the information, Michael. My own copy of Steppenwolf is the very same edition.
Steppenwolf, followed by Narziss and Goldmund and The Journey to the East are my favourites.
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Post by starserpent on Dec 10, 2018 10:07:12 GMT
I think that Demian: The Story of Emil Sinclair's Youth is also worth mentioning here. I love this book, especially its references to Gnosticism and Jungian psychology.
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Post by stephen on Dec 10, 2018 15:00:38 GMT
Quite so; I would not wish to ignore Demian:
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Post by Gregory Peters on Dec 10, 2018 17:59:45 GMT
The only ones I've read are Siddhartha and Demian, lifetimes ago in my early 20's. I had forgotten all about these until this post, so that you for that Stephen. Based on this thread perhaps I'll have to add a few others to my monumental queue of books
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Post by Raj Don Yasser on Dec 11, 2018 15:26:48 GMT
I think that Demian: The Story of Emil Sinclair's Youth is also worth mentioning here. I love this book, especially its references to Gnosticism and Jungian psychology. is possibly my favorite Hesse novel, although Steppenwolf might be tied for first place, and both benefit from repeated readings. I'm actually surprised that Kenneth Grant only had one Hesse book on his shelf. |
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Post by Gregory Peters on Dec 11, 2018 23:38:05 GMT
The only Steppenwolf I am familiar with is this www.youtube.com/watch?v=egMWlD3fLJ8Apologies, blame it on the lack of caffeine and corporate mind wipe I'm currently experiencing.... |
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Post by Raj Don Yasser on Dec 12, 2018 16:08:49 GMT
Apologies, blame it on the lack of caffeine and corporate mind wipe I'm currently experiencing.... ....while in the midwest Raj is taking an entire week of PTO devoted to study, reading, hiking, and in a few days participating in the Occult Bookstore's 100th Anniversary celebrations on Friday and Saturday. |
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Post by Gregory Peters on Dec 12, 2018 18:54:35 GMT
Apologies, blame it on the lack of caffeine and corporate mind wipe I'm currently experiencing.... ....while in the midwest Raj is taking an entire week of PTO devoted to study, reading, hiking, and in a few days participating in the Occult Bookstore's 100th Anniversary celebrations on Friday and Saturday. Idyllic! I am my best in the wilderness, and mildly tolerable in other situations. Enjoy and please convey my greetings to all! |
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