A review by hadeanstars
Narcissus and Goldmund by Hermann Hesse

5.0

Really beyond my expectations, this is a wonderful novel that I enjoyed thoroughly. Hesse displays a genius here for juxtaposing the material with the spiritual, the mundane with the divine, and here he places his characters, one an artist who craves sensual experience, the other an intellectual whose asceticism and self-discipline set him apart from the rest of humanity, in a kind of contest, albeit a fraternal and well-meaning one. Each becomes enlightened in his own way. There is so much wisdom in this story, and it’s surprisingly accessible too, hovering somewhere between fairy tale, myth and medieval historical novel. I really loved it and tore through it in no time. It’s a very simple and well paced plot, but this detracts not at all from the complexity and thoughtfulness of the underlying ideas, which will certainly make you think. Compelling and remarkable.