Siddhartha
New York: Bantam Books, 1971. Reprint. Mass Market Paperback. Fine. Item #2354559
ISBN: 9780553208849
Recent reprint (13-digit ISBN). Brand new from publisher.
152 pp. Translated into English from the original German by Hilda Rosner. Though set in a place and time far removed from the Germany of 1922, the year of the book's debut, the novel is infused with the sensibilities of Hermann Hesse's time, synthesizing disparate philosophies - Eastern religions, Jungian archetypes, Western individualism - into a unique vision of life as expressed through one man's search for meaning. It is the story of the quest of Siddhartha, a wealthy Indian Brahmin who casts off a life of privilege and comfort to seek spiritual fulfillment and wisdom. On his journey, Siddhartha encounters wandering ascetics, Buddhist monks, and successful merchants, as well as a courtesan named Kamala and a simple ferryman who has attained enlightenment. Traveling among these people and experiencing life's vital passages - love, work, friendship, and fatherhood - Siddhartha discovers that true knowledge is guided from within.
Price: $8.99