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The Glass Bead Game

Hermann Hesse,

Richard Winston (Translator),

Clara Winston (Translator),

Theodore Ziolkowski (Foreword)

Start date: February 1, 2021

Finish date: February 28, 2021

Discussion: BOTM Discussions

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What Members Thought

Feb 07, 2021 Kristel rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1001-challenge, fantasy, 1001-books, philosophy, 20th-century, 2022-botm

Set in the future, the 23rd century, I think, the setting is Castalia. The story is the last by Hermann Hesse and is called a work of Science Fiction. I don't see the SF part of it but it also can be described as fantasy and fictional biography. It also is full of Hesse's interest in Eastern philosophy and Western religion. The author received the Nobel probably because of this book in 1946. Joseph Knecht is the young initiate into the monastic secular life of Castalia. The men study various sub ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 25, 2021 George P. rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1001-books-read, author-not-us-canada-or-uk

This was something of a tedious read for me at times, but eventually I got into the story and curiosity as to where it was going to go. Hesse's style is that of his time, totally chonological (which is ok), and very clear prose, not difficult to follow. The philosophy is there, but it's in the story, not in side-tracks from it, which I appreciated. The main character's life path seemed very credible to me which was a strong quality of the novel.
This is the third Hesse novel I've read, the others ...more

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Feb 16, 2019 Karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1001

3.5 stars. I have read several books by Hermann Hesse, and although I may never really completely satisfied with the endings, I enjoy the journey.

The Glass Bead Game is really a biography of a fictional character set in a fictional country and according to Hesse set in the future (25th century), Although, he does not describe this future at all, except to say after the age of terrible wars. The province of Castalia was set up an order of men (no women) to bring about an aristocracy of intellect ...more

1 like · Like · see review