Knulp

by Hermann Hesse

First published 1992

Knulp moves from town to town with nothing but his charm and a light heart. Friends welcome him into their homes, offering food and shelter to this gentle wanderer who refuses to settle into any job or permanent arrangement. He abandons even a traveling companion during a summer of tramping together. His rootless existence seems carefree and self-contained. Yet beneath his easy smile lies the growing weight of doubt. As Knulp faces death alone in a snowstorm, he confronts God with his fears about a life spent avoiding responsibility. The divine response surprises him. His wandering served a purpose he never understood. Through his example of freedom, he planted seeds of longing in the hearts of those trapped by convention and duty.

Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, 20th-century

Vibes: atmospheric, contemplative, intimate

Tropes: character-driven, wandering-protagonist

114 pages · ebook · Farrar, Straus and Giroux

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