I am reading Steppenwolf again for the second time. I first read this book in 1970 for an upper level English class in high school. Pretty heady reading for a 17 year old young man and I was one of three students who questioned this book and I thought it was a anarchist's 'wet dream'.
Some things have not changed. I do not care for Hermann Hesse and his style of writing but now that I am almost 61, there is much more to this book than the first time I read it. I think there is a bit of The Steppenwolf in all of us. I have been called a lone wolf many times in my life, told that I should be living alone with just a few dogs, that I would be 'happier' on my own. I can sum this up by saying I was born about 200 years too late. Some, the very very few who know me well, know that this is true. I do not share willingly nor trust very many. You know who you are. This book is way beyond the lone wolf thing.
Do not worry, faithful readers who tread here. I AM NOT going to bore you with a lengthy review or my thoughts on Steppenwolf but I will share this from the book:
"He never sold himself for money or an easy life or to women or to or to those in power; and had thrown away a hundred times what in the world's eyes was his advantage and happiness in order to safe guard his liberty".
Page 50 from the edition I am reading from 1961, printed by Buccaneer Books, Cutchogue, New York.
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| Image source is here |
I remain your most obedient and humble servant. In SPIRIT, MIND and BODY, I will never submit. Make of this what you will. PatriotUSA
Tags: Hermann Hesse, Der Steppenwolf, The Lone Wolf, .To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the Patriot's Corner. Thanks!
6 Comments - Share Yours!:
Yes, that's a fantastically important and fascinating book. I read Steppenwolf and Demian many years ago - after reading about them in Colin Wilson's The Outsider.
And funnily enough, I was in Waterstones the other day & thought I might pick up some fiction to read, and I actually did have in my hand a copy of Hesse's Steppenwolf. However, I had just been watching a documentary on the Canadian rock band Rush, so I ended up getting a copy of Anthem by Ayn Rand, a writer I am not familiar with at all.
btw your graphic looks like the tattoo I have on my left bicep. Underneath are the words: Lone Wolf.
Ayn Rand?? Gonna love her writing and what she has to say. You will not stop with Anthem my friend, you have not got a chance at all.
Read more of her books, Nick. They will speak and call deeply to you.
Ayn Rand was the most influential person in my life at the point I began understanding life outside my own small world. Bill Whittle was/is the second most.
PatriotUSA is totally correct - her writing will speak to you.
Well since I've gotten £50 in Waterstones vouchers for Christmas ...
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