This Side: Stories

Hermann Hesse

Sep 2023 · Newcomb Livraria Press

About this ebook

New translation of the original German manuscript of "This Side" Stories collection, by Nobel Prize for Literature Hermann Hesse. This edition also contains an epilogue by the translator, a philosophical glossary of concepts used by Hesse and a chronology of his life and work. Hesse won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1947.

"This Side" is a collection of 5 stories, which delve into themes related to nature, love and the search for meaning. Several of these have clear Jungian and Nietzschean influence. Hay Moon has comparisons to Kolb, where the character Hamburger is depicted lacking a deep, foundational essence. This makes him a surface-level idealist who engages with the works of Nietzsche and Ruskin only through oversimplified versions, revealing his inability to truly comprehend their depth, especially Nietzsche's principle of "amor fati". His claims about the unique influence of geniuses on history come across as insincere. In contrast, Peter Abderegg emerges as an epitome of true ideals due to his undeniable inner resolve and firm beliefs. Intriguingly, Hesse had similarly referenced Nietzsche about thirty years earlier, highlighting the same superficial attributes of Hamburger here in Hay Moon.

"The Marble Saw" (Die Marmorsage, 1908), the protagonist's idealism is continuously challenged and ultimately dismantled by the cynicism of the character Gustav Becker. Hesse's narrative underscores the transitory nature of optimism, likening it to fleeting moments of fairy tale happiness.

This edition contains these critical stories:

From Childhood

The Marble Saw

Hay Moon

The Latin Student

A Journey on foot in Autumn

About the author

A German-Swiss poet, novelist, and painter, Hesse’s literature deeply explores the individual's search for self-knowledge, authenticity, and spirituality. Influenced by Eastern philosophy, Nietzsche and Jungian psychology (he was a personal friend of Jung), his works like "Siddhartha" and "Steppenwolf" became emblematic of the counter-culture movements of the 20th century and literary manifestations of Continental Philosophy. Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1946, Hesse's highly individualistic and spiritual narratives continue to inspire personal growth and Socratic self-awareness