Gertrude

by Hermann Hesse

Book Overview

With Gertrude , Herman Hesse continues his lifelong exploration of the irreconcilable elements of human existence. In this fictional memoir, the renowned composer Kuhn recounts his tangled relationships with two artists--his friend Heinrich Muoth, a brooding, self-destructive opera singer, and the gentle, self-assured Gertrude Imthor. Kuhn is drawn to Gertrude upon their first meeting, but Gertrude falls in love with Heinrich, to whom she is introduced...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312424639
• ISBN13: 9780312424633
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

"A Thought-Provoking Tale of Music, Love, and Egotism"

Although hardly as recognized as the NARZISS AND GOLDMUND or the Novel prize winner THE GLASS BEAD GAME, GERTRUDE is one of Hermann Hesse's most beautifully written works that deserves distinction in its own right. The novel seems a rather short read at first glance, but its fast-moving nine chapters are much denser than its small volume. To fit this novel into one category would be difficult: it is a tragedy of two lovers and two friends; it is a tale of unrequited love; it is a reminiscence of a man who has matured from an indeterminate youth into adulthood; it is a testimony of the destructivity of egotism of man. This is a story of every significant aspect of a human being, that witnesses life's joys and sorrows in the most unfeigned, scrupulous way. In a retrospective manner, the story unfolds chronologically by the main character, Kuhn. The story starts as Kuhn recollects the adolescence and early adulthood of his life in a calm, bleak tone. Kuhn is a shy, remarkably observant youth, whose life has been "tuned to one-key note and directed solely to one star": music. Despite his passion, however, his future as a musician is only in vain. While Kuhn fritters away in depression and self-disillusionment, one day, a life-changing accident happens: one that changes the scale of life on which he lives, and it grants him the concentration and productive insight to express himself through writing his own music. It is a contradictory and rather ironic event, for it deprives him the joy of youth and yet this loss of youthful happiness becomes a path that leads him to become a productive artist. Life's sorrows and anguish transform into his main source of inspiration. One of the songs composed during that period leads him to the encounter with Muoth, the opera singer with an impetuous personality. Their relationship continually grows and deteriorates, as the story becomes increasingly complex with new characters introduced in almost every chapter. The philosophical depth and insight into life and human nature are the trademarks of Hesse, and they do not fail to form the centrepiece of this novel either. The story is really an emotional analysis of the impact of Muoth's impulsive and agonized personality on people around him, how Muoth's egotism and ill-guided passion affect them, eventually resulting in shattering their lives. A remark casually made by Kuhn's father strikingly coincides with Muoth's character: "Youth ends when egotism does; maturity begins when one lives for others. Young people have many pleasures and many sorrows, because they only have themselves to think of, so every wish and every notion assumes importance; every pleasure is tasted to the full, but also every sorrow, and many who find that their wishes cannot be fulfilled, immediately put an end to their lives." While the flowery prose often runs over several lines in one sentence, the sensitive writing of Hesse affords to remain clear and elegant. Kuhn's describ

THis is one of the most beautiful novel I 've ead

I read this book when I was 12 years old then I completely forgot what hesse really want to write about . as I failed my first and probably last unrequited love,i could find some consolement from this novel.. it talked about touching,subtle,pure,and innocent love which perhaps most people ignored its value noadays.. anyway,it's a book highly recommended to those who now having love sick and still beieve there are pure love without lust ..

This is a great book

Gertrude is Hermann Hesse at his most accessible, most believable and most human. It is a simple but moving story for those who have experienced unrequitted love. It also touches the right buttons for those who are forever in search of happiness and who have never been able to find inner calm. Hesse's episodes with suicidal thought (a regular and autobiographical feature of his earlier works) and search for life's meaning are themes which he often searched out in his novels. This piece from 1910 is still has aged well, remains relevent and is very approachable 90 years later.

Hermann Hesse is truly great.

This book is absolutely incredible. The book is beautifully written and has convincing, passionate characters.

A beautiful story of an unrequited love.

I have been wanting to read a work of Hesse's for a while, yet never found ample time until my summer vacation. It was my aunt who suggested that I read Gertrude and I, for once, am glad to have taken her advice. The book is narrated by a composer, Kuhn, and tells of his love for Gertrude, his friendship with the tempermental opera singer Muoth, and his passion for music. It is an excellent book that reads the way life does. I think the moral would be that one must, in life, take the good with the bad. I especially enjoyed this book because I could dentify with Kuhn's passion for music.