About this title: The classic study of a split personality by the renowned German author and Nobel Laureate. The narrator is a man who regards himself as half-human and half-wolf, a creature of the Russian steppes.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Publisher: Bantam Books, New York
Date Published: 1970
Description: Fair. No Jacket. The book is solid with lightly browned pages and occasional margin marks. A name is written on the first end paper. The cover has moderate shelf wear & heavy edge wear with 1 3/4 inch tears at the upper two edges of the spine, a 2 1/4 inch tear at the lower back corner of the spine and a 1 inch tear on the lower fore edge. The surface of the spine is peeling. read more
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. Minor creases on cover and spine. Covers are straight. P.O. 's name on front flyleaf. Text is, otherwise, clean. Binding is tight. read more
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. Minor vertical creases on front cover and spine. One, very small tear(approx. 1/4")on bottom corner of spine. P.o. 's name on flyleaf. Covers are still straight and crisp. Text has one paragraph underlined. Text is... Rinehart Editions, 318pp. Glued binding. read more
Binding: Mass-market paperback
Publisher: Bantam Books
Date Published: 1969
ISBN-13:9780553238129ISBN:0553238124
Description: Very good. No dust jacket as issued. English translation. Cover shows minor wear, name on printed flyleaf; text appears unmarked, tanned. Translated by Basil Creighton. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Harcourt Brace College Publishers
Date Published: 1963
ISBN-13:9780030121357ISBN:0030121353
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. Ex-library. 246 pgs library stamps on inside of book, pages appears to have dirt on the top of them, pencil marks throughout the book jacket shows signs of wear read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Holt Paperbacks
Date Published: 1990
ISBN-13:9780805012477ISBN:0805012478
Description: Acceptable. Moderate highlighting; Moderate wear to cover Overall below average used book. May have highlighting, underlining, notes, price sticker on cover, or be an ex-library book. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Bantam Books
Date Published: 1969
Description: Good. Holt, Rinehart paperback. Good condition overall. Cover slightly worn. Some underlining. Owner's name on paste down or fly. Tight Spine. Good solid copy. read more
"Harry Haller, c'est cet homme hors du monde, isolé, inadapté à la vie de ses semblables, qui se décrit comme un "loup des steppes".
Mais c'est un loup à visage humain, à la fois le fauve libre à l'instinct sauvage et carnassier et cet homme sensible, doué d'une grande intelligence et de raffinement.
Chez Harry cohabitent deux forces inconciliables et antagonistes, deux penchants radicalement différents qui sans cesse s'opposent et le taraudent.
Ses inclinations les plus intimes le rabaissent à la nature tandis que ses plus ferventes aspirations l'élèvent vers l'esprit.
Harry en conçoit une infinie souffrance et, avec cette incapacité à demeurer en paix, le suicide apparaît bientôt comme une échappée salutaire.
Si "le Loup des steppes menait la vie d'un suicidé", le courage lui manque pour mettre son projet à exécution.
C'est alors qu'il rencontre Hermine, son double, qui le conduira sur le chemin de l'harmonie, vers sa pleine condition d'homme. Mais pour le héros d'Hermann Hesse "tout ce qui est créé... est déjà coupable, déjà lancé dans le torrent boueux du devenir, et ne peut jamais, jamais remonter le courant"."
"This is the third time I've read this book, although the last time I read it was about thirty years ago. It made an impression on me the other times, mainly because of the other worldly aspects of it. I was prepared to be let down this time expecting it to be more juvenile than I remembered. Hesse wrote Steppenwolf should only be read by people approaching fifty in order to understand it. I don't think the book should be so exclusive, but I can understand his point. The main character, Harry Haller is nearing fifty and contemplating committing suicide on his birthday. This crisis drives the narrative.
Hesse was a die hard romantic. The writing becomes overly prosaic at times but never sentimental. The learning from feminine knowledge seems at time to be merely male fantasy. On the other hand, foolishness of solitude is depicted profoundly and thoughtfully. The book in part is clearly biographical which caused me wonder how many times Hesse achieved what he thought was form enlightenment only to be later disappointed. Perhaps I will read it again before I die."
"The first time I read this book I felt like it had been written for me, and I was young enough that it made a strong impression on my sense of self. The second time I read it I realized that Hesse pulled off the amazing feat of writing a book that appeals to many but feels very personal. I feel more ownership of this story than I have any right to, but its my story and I love Hesse for that."
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