Siddhartha

'A subtle distillation of wisdom, stylistic grace and symmetry of form' Sunday Times

'A writer of genius' The Times

'[It's] hard to think of a more recent novel that has sung so eloquently of the joys of being alone... beguiling' Guardian

The inspirational spiritual classic Siddhartha by Nobel-Prize winner Hermann Hesse, in a gorgeous small-format hardback, perfect for gifting

Dissatisfied with the hollowness he senses in his privileged way of life, Siddhartha, the handsome son of a Brahmin, leaves his family and his great friend, Govinda, in search of a higher state of being. Siddhartha's quest for insight takes him from immense wealth and luxury, and the pleasures of sensual and paternal love, to the purity of stringent asceticism. Worn out by his wanderings, he finds himself by the banks of a river, and there a humble ferryman teaches him his most valuable lesson yet.

Hermann Hesse's short, elegant novel, echoing the life of the Buddha, has been cherished by readers for decades as an unforgettable spiritual primer. An undeniable classic of modern literature, it is also a tender moral allegory whose teachings continue to unfold more than a century after it first appeared.

Part of the Pushkin Press Classics series: timeless storytelling by icons of literature, hand-picked from around the globe.

Translated by Hilda Rosner

Hermann Hesse (1877-1963) is counted among the leading novelists and thinkers of the twentieth century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1946 for a body of literature renowned for its humanist, philosophical and spiritual insight. His most famous works include Siddhartha, Journey to the East, Demian, and Narcissus and Goldmund, all published by Pushkin Press.

Hilda Rosner translated not only Siddhartha but also several more of Hesse's major works, including Journey to the East, Gertrude and The Dhammapada.