Narcissus and Goldmund

Hesse'snoveloftwomedievalmen,onequietlycontentwithhisreligionandmonasticlife,theotherinferventsearchofmoreworldlysalvation.Thisconflictbetweenfleshandspirit,betweenemotionalandcontemplativeman,wasalifestudyforHesse.Itisathemethattranscendsalltime.TheHessePhenomenon"hasturnedintoavogue,thevogueintoatorrent...Hehasappealedbothto...anundergroundandtoanestablishment...andtothedisenchantedyoungsharinghiscontemptforourindustrialcivilization."--"TheNewYorkTimesBookReview"