Narcissus and Goldmund

Hermann Hesse · 1877–1962 · Germany / Switzerland

Originally Narziß und Goldmund (German)

Why it matters

A monk of the mind and a wanderer of the flesh: two friends at a medieval cloister choose opposite paths to the sacred, one through contemplation, the other through art and desire. Hesse's most fully realized fable of contrary vocations.

At a glance

Clear, legend-like prose despite its sustained philosophical dialectic.