Siddhartha

by Hermann Hesse Narrated by George Easton

Overview

Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse is a timeless and profound novel that takes readers on an introspective journey of self-discovery and spiritual enlightenment. Set in ancient India, the story follows the titular character, Siddhartha, a young Brahmin who embarks on a quest to unravel the mysteries of existence and find ultimate meaning in life. Driven by a restless spirit and a deep yearning for truth, Siddhartha rejects the traditional path of his upbringing and embarks on a relentless pursuit of spiritual wisdom. Leaving behind his comfortable life, he traverses various realms of existence, seeking guidance and enlightenment from spiritual teachers, ascetics, and even courtesans. Read in English, unabridged.

Editorial Reviews

Once the preferred marching song of '60s hippies, Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha has returned to its rightful high niche in world literature. This translation by Susan Bernofsky highlights the unblemished clarity of Hesse's tale of spiritual sacrifice and awakening.

Publishers Weekly - Audio

02/27/2017
Actor Ansdell guides listeners in his firm and gentle voice through Hesse’s lyrical prose depicting the self-discovery journey of his protagonist, Siddhartha. Ansdell’s pacing and English accent give his reading for the audiobook an air of philosopher’s wisdom. Ansdell is especially good at pauses and inflections that express Siddhartha’s moods of exaltation and utter despair at various points in his life as a young Brahman, an ascetic, a lover, businessman, and then as a father and elderly recluse who sits by the river and finally experiences the peace and tranquility he has always sought. Published in German in 1922 and in English in 1951, the revival of Hesse’s novel in this era of widespread interest in Eastern religions offers Ansdell a vehicle for his diverse narrative talents. (Sept.)

The Nation

"The cool and strangely simple story makes a beautiful little book, classic in proportion and style; it should be read slowly and with savor, preferably during the lonely hours of the night."

Chicago Tribune

"One could even hope that Hesse’s readers are hungrily imbibing Siddhartha, and that they will be so wisely foolish as to live by it."

Washington Post Book World

"In Siddhartha the setting is Indian and we encounter the Buddha, but the author’s ethos is still closer to Goethe."

San Francisco Chronicle

"Hermann Hesse is the greatest writer of the century."

From the Publisher

"A writer of genius." —Times


"A subtle distillation of wisdom, stylistic grace and symmetry of form" —Sunday Times

MARCH 2010 - AudioFile

Herman Hesse's novel chronicles one man's search for enlightenment in the age of the historical Buddha. The novel's action is as internal as it is external, and we're drawn, no doubt by the echo of our own longing, into Siddhartha's restlessness and his determined pursuit of a spiritual path. The narrator, English-born James Langton, offers a measured, unhurried reading that's an effective rendering of the spare, lyrical prose Hesse crafted for this quiet novel. One quirk dimmed the experience for this listener: Langton gives an atypical twist to the protagonist's name, trilling what sounds like an extra "r" in the final syllable. It may have been a reach for authenticity, but it comes across as an affectation and clouds the transparency of the reading. M.G. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940159785046
Publisher:	Interactive Media
Publication date:	05/20/2023
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Siddhartha"
by .
Copyright © 2013 Hermann Hesse.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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