Demian (Dover Thrift Editions)
by Hermann Hesse

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Book Reviews of Demian (Dover Thrift Editions)

Book Review: A Reclamation of the Soul
Summary: 5 Stars

Hermann Hess (author of Siddhartha, Narziss and Goldmund, and Steppenwolf) begins his half-autobiographical, half fiction tale of young Emil Sinclair. Emil is trapped between two worlds: one a world of Holiness and Purity, the other a world of Darkness and Mystery. In one world, times like Christmas and Easter; in the other, a world of "scandal" and "ghost stories". In an attempt to gain more repute with the "bad" gang at his school, Emil concocts a story of him stealing apples from a townsman notorious for his bad temper. Franz, the leader of the gang, then goes, steals the apples, and blackmails Emil making him pay Franz money that he does not have. Emil then begins to steal from his parents to pay his fee until an incredible figure comes into his life.

Max Demian, new to the area, is young in body, yet ancient in spirit and knowledge. He befriends Emil and influences him in a way that will affect the rest of his life.

As Emil and Max grow up together, it seems to Emil that Max has supernatural powers. He is apparently able to influence people to do his whim and demonstrates this many times to Emil. Max also has a unique interpretation of the Bible which as he shares with Emil, undermines Emil's entire beliefs of what he has always taken for truth. Max forces Emil to open his eyes, and think about what he is being force fed.

Their tale continues through depression, insecurity, drunkenness, love, sex, and violence. Hermann Hesse writes with a powerful, sharp quill. This book cut through my defenses of duty to my English class. It easily pierced my own struggles with fear and depression and women. The unique thing about it is that I cannot pinpoint the source of this strength. Where Jack Kerouac inspires freedom with his writing and Stephen King purveys sheer terror, Hermann Hesse provides myriad emotions, each different, yet equally potent. This book did affect my life. For you who are stable, controlled, and have unconvoluted lives, this is not for you. Rather, for those who have skeletons in the closet, confessions to make, and raw emotion to exhume, get this book, a blanket, and a cup of coffee, for you will read it from cover to cover.

"I wanted only to try to live in accord with the promptings which came from my true self. Why was that so very difficult?" -- Demian, Hesse.

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