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Steppenwolf-Hermann Hesse


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.

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!:

Nick said...

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.

Nick said...

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.

Nick said...

btw your graphic looks like the tattoo I have on my left bicep. Underneath are the words: Lone Wolf.

PatriotUSA said...

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.

Andrea said...

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.

Nick said...

Well since I've gotten £50 in Waterstones vouchers for Christmas ...