Audiobooks by Herman Hesse

Siddhartha and Journey to the East Audiobook

"'A subtle distillation of wisdom, stylistic grace and symmetry of form' Sunday Times 'It's hard to think of a more recent novel that has sung so eloquently the joys of being alone' Guardian An inspirational classic from Nobel Prize-winner Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha is a beautiful tale of self-discovery Dissatisfied with the ways of life he has experienced, Siddhartha, the handsome son of a Brahmin, leaves his family and his friend, Govinda, in search of a higher state of being. Having experienced the myriad forms of existence, from immense wealth and luxury to the pleasures of sensual and paternal love, Siddhartha finally settles down beside a river, where a humble ferryman teaches him his most valuable lesson yet. Hermann Hesse's short, elegant novel, echoing the life of the Buddha, has been cherished by readers for decades as an unforgettable spiritual primer. A tender and unforgettable moral allegory, it is an undeniable classic of modern literature. Part of the Pushkin Press Classics series: timeless storytelling by icons of literature, hand-picked from around the globe This audio edition also includes the 1932 short novel Journey to the East, a classic meditation on artistic creation and the quest for spiritual transcendence. Original text © Suhrkamp Verlag Frankfurt am Main 1969, Translation copyright © Peter Owen Ltd, 1954, Foreword © Pico Iyer 2012, Recorded by arrangement with Pushkin Press, First published in Germany in 1922. Original text © Hermann Hesse 1932, Revised English translation © Peter Owen 1964, Foreword © Tony Wheeler 2007, Recorded by arrangement with Pushkin Press."

Herman Hesse (Author), Chris Nayak (Narrator)

Audiobook

The Prodigy

"The Prodigy is the story of Hans Giebenrath, a talented boy sent to a seminary in Maulbronn. His education is focused solely on increasing his knowledge, neglecting personal development. His close friendship with Hermann Heilner, a more liberal fellow student, is a source of comfort for Hans. Heilner is expelled from the seminary, and Giebenrath is sent home after his academic performance declines as symptoms of mental illness develop."

Herman Hesse (Author), Arlo Eddowes (Narrator)

Audiobook

Siddhartha

"The story takes place in ancient India, where Siddhartha, the handsome son of a Brahmin, decides to leave his home in the hope of gaining spiritual illumination by becoming an ascetic Samana. Joined by his best friend Govinda, Siddhartha fasts, becomes homeless, renounces all personal possessions, and intensely meditates. Eventually the pair seek out and personally speak with the enlightened Gautama, but although Govinda hastily joins the Buddha's order, Siddhartha does not. For him, the Buddhist philosophy, though supremely wise, must be individually realized independently of instruction by a teacher. He thus resolves to carry on his quest alone."

Herman Hesse (Author), Arlo Eddowes (Narrator)

Audiobook

Peter Camenzind

"Peter Camenzind, published in 1904, is the first novel by Hermann Hesse. It contains a number of themes that were to preoccupy the author in many of his later works, most notably the individual's search for a unique spiritual and physical identity amidst the backdrops of nature and modern civilization, and the role of art in the formation of personal identity."

Herman Hesse (Author), Arlo Eddowes (Narrator)

Audiobook

Knulp

Herman Hesse (Author), Arlo Eddowes (Narrator)

Audiobook

Steppenwolf

"As the story begins, Harry is beset by reflections on his being ill-suited for the world of everyday, regular people, specifically for frivolous bourgeois society. In his aimless wanderings about the city he encounters a person carrying an advertisement for a magic theatre who gives him a small book, Treatise on the Steppenwolf. This treatise, cited in full in the novel's text as Harry reads it, addresses Harry by name and strikes him as describing himself uncannily. It is a discourse on a man who believes himself to be of two natures: one high, man's spiritual nature, the other low and animalistic, a 'wolf of the steppes'. This man is entangled in an irresolvable struggle, never content with either nature because he cannot see beyond this self-made concept. The pamphlet gives an explanation of the multifaceted and indefinable nature of every man's soul, but Harry is either unable or unwilling to recognize this. It also discusses his suicidal intentions, describing him as one of the 'suicides': people who, deep down, knew they would take their own life one day. But to counter that, it hails his potential to be great, to be one of the 'Immortals'."

Herman Hesse (Author), Arlo Eddowes (Narrator)

Audiobook

Demian

"This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. In this profound and poetic novel, Hermann Hesse explores the duality of human nature through the eyes of Emil Sinclair, a young man navigating the complexities of life. As Sinclair grapples with the opposing forces within himself and the world around him, he encounters the enigmatic Max Demian, whose unique perspective challenges Sinclair's understanding of reality. Through their friendship and a series of transformative experiences, Sinclair embarks on a journey of self-discovery, ultimately learning to embrace his individuality and find his place in the world."

Herman Hesse (Author), Digital Voice Martin G (Narrator)

Audiobook

Steppenwolf

"This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. Hermann Hess’ Steppenwolf is not just a novel—it’s a journey into the fractured soul of humanity. Meet Harry Haller, a man torn between civilization and savagery, intellect and instinct, longing for belonging yet addicted to solitude. In this haunting, hallucinatory tale, Hesse invites you to step beyond the veil of convention into the Magical Theater—a place where identity shatters, reality bends, and the self becomes infinite. Existential dread meets mystical revelation. Bohemian jazz clubs, secret societies, and shadow selves. A novel that dances on the edge of madness and meaning. Whether you’re a seeker, a misfit, or simply curious about the wild wolves howling in your own psyche, Steppenwolf will challenge and change the way you see yourself—and the world."

Herman Hesse (Author), Digital Voice Martin G (Narrator)

Audiobook

[Italian] - L'infanzia dell'incantatore

"Hermann Hesse non ha mai scritto un'autobiografia, ma ha affidato la sua visione del mondo a scritti in cui la biografia confina con il romanzo. I tre testi riuniti in questo volume - 'L'infanzia dell'incantatore', 'Breve cenno biografico' e 'Alla memoria di mio padre' - ci restituiscono il ritratto di un 'piccolo uomo' solitario, un eterno fanciullo capace di guardare le cose con l'occhio puro, il cuore semplice e lo stupore intatto dell'infanzia; un 'incantato' che, grazie al sapiente uso della parola, vuole farsi 'incantatore', ricreando dalle rovine del reale un mondo meraviglioso di finzione, che finisce però per configurarsi come la sola e indiscussa realtà. contributori LE Dario Dossena TR Gianna Ruschena Accatino IN Enrico Groppali"

Herman Hesse (Author), Dario Dossena (Narrator)

Audiobook

[Italian] - La natura ci parla

"Questa raccolta, che ha come asse portante la dialettica natura-storia, rivela come la dichiarata esigenza di Hesse di un'antropologia nuova sia tradotta in tutta la sua opera in un originale manifesto ecologico. La visione 'lirico-cosmica' di Hesse non è il rigurgito romantico di un'anima bella quanto ignara dei problemi del mondo, bensì il nucleo di una avveniristica scienza dell'uomo che salda un vincolo indissolubile tra ecologia ed estetica. Il tema dell'arte come suprema ecologia è rappresentato in questo volume da brani narrativi e versi in cui lo scrittore riproduce splendidi colloqui tra poeta e natura. contributori LE Dario Dossena CU Maria Teresa Giannelli"

Herman Hesse (Author), Dario Dossena (Narrator)

Audiobook

[Italian] - La musica del mondo: Pensieri e letture

"In occasione del settantacinquesimo compleanno, nel 1952, Hermann Hesse pubblicò una plaquette che raccoglieva trentanove «letture da un minuto», massime che un lettore aveva tratto dai suoi scritti: romanzi, ma anche brani di lettere, articoli, recensioni. Attorno a quel nucleo originario si è andata poi formando questa raccolta di pensieri che, con oltre mille citazioni, documenta lo sguardo sempre originale di Hesse sui temi più svariati, dalla politica alla letteratura, dal ruolo dell'individuo nella società alla felicità. La filosofia sincretistica ma profondamente coerente del poeta di Siddharta appare qui non come una costruzione teorica, ma come il frutto delle sue esperienze dirette, e si mostra al lettore ancora oggi attuale e sorprendente come via per vivere un'esistenza più intensa, serena, armoniosa. contributori LE Dario Dossena CU Volker Michels"

Herman Hesse (Author), Dario Dossena (Narrator)

Audiobook

[Italian] - Peter Camenzind

"Composto e pubblicato nel decennio che precede lo scoppio della Grande Guerra, tra 1904 e 1914, questo romanzo corrisponde alla fase giovanile, romantica, della produzione di Hermann Hesse, che ancora non ha scoperto la psicoanalisi junghiana, ma già rivela i temi che lo accompagneranno per tutta la vita. Di forte ispirazione autobiografica, Peter Camenzind si iscrive nella tradizione germanica del Bildungsroman; simili per sensibilità appare il protagonista, spirito raffinato che trova appagamento nell'immergersi nella natura. A fare da guida alla scrittura sarà sempre quella consapevolezza che «la vera vocazione di ciascuno è una sola, quella di arrivare a se stesso», come scriverà in Demian. Una consapevolezza che fin dalle pagine di uno dei suoi primi romanzi appare chiara e irrevocabile. contributori TR Ervino Pocar LE Dario Dossena"

Herman Hesse (Author), Dario Dossena (Narrator)

Audiobook

Audiobooks by Herman Hesse

Join Our Community