Steppenwolf Paperback – January 1, 2012

Wonderful

Steppenwolf was very popular in the seventies college classes. Lately I’ve been thinking, I need the Magic Theatre” again. This is not the same translation as the one I read but it is excellent. There is a preview about the story set in the middle of European philosophical sircles plus a translators afterword. It is a very formal style of writing but if you stick with it you will be richly rewarded. It’s a magnificent book in my mind. Hesse says the story is for madmen only. You may feel a bit mad (insane) while reading it. It’s for serious thinkers. Existentialism as a philosophy, is a bit daunting to understand but hesse uses that philosophy throughout. You will also see some oh hesse’s Buddhist ideas such as life being full of sun and shadow and taking responsibility for your actions. This year has felt like the sixties and seventies all over again, trump being the Vietnam war all in one. So a good time to read steppe wolf! I highly recommend it.

I started reading it but just couldn't get into it. Some folks say it's a real good book but it's just really not for me.

The paperback arrived creased. Not worth paying extra for the cover art.

I thought these books were to express freedom not political correctness, worst translation. I am refunding this terrible translation.

This new translation by David Horrocks is far inferior to the original 1929 translations. When you compare the language of both books, the originals flow and are a pleasure to read, whereas David Horrock's translation is clunky and kitsch. I am dissapointed that this is the only translation available with amazon.