First published 1971
A soldier in World War II, Hermann Hesse grapples with the horrors of war and his own personal anguish. He confronts the racism, nationalism, and violence that have consumed his country. Hesse's essays offer a somber, introspective view of the conflict's devastating toll on the human spirit. At the core is Hesse's unwavering moral stance against the forces tearing his world apart. His words cut through the fog of propaganda, laying bare the tragic consequences of unchecked power and hate.
Genres: essays, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, war, non-fiction
Vibes: dark, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: introspective-narrator, social-commentary
185 pages · Paperback · Farrar Straus Giroux
Content warnings: violence, war