Hans Giebenrath, a gifted boy from a small town in the Black Forest, is pushed by his father and teachers to pass the state exam that gains him entry to a Protestant seminary. He succeeds, but at the seminary the pressure is too much. He befriends Hermann Heilner, a rebellious poet, and his performance collapses. Hesse, drawing on his own school experiences, describes how an educational system crushes a sensitive child.
Readers who like coming-of-age novels, criticism of schooling, and lyrical depictions of nature will find a short, sad book. It suits teenagers and adults reflecting on pressure to achieve, and fans of Hesse beyond Siddhartha.
Deep, inward-looking, contemplative and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Mindful Reader. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1972
- Publisher
- Suhrkamp
- ISBN
- 9783518365526
- Language
- DE
