Steppenwolf: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Steppenwolf: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
Steppenwolf is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Hesse, Hermann (1877–1962). The listed translation credits are Creighton, Basil (1885–1989).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Steppenwolf" by Hermann Hesse is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story delves into the existential struggles of its main character, Harry Haller, nicknamed the "Steppenwolf," a solitary and intellectually gifted man wrestling with feelings of alienation, despair, and a divided self. The book explores his complex psyche, isolation from society, and search for meaning in a rapidly changing world. Readers interested in deep psychological introspection, inner conflicts, and explorations of spirituality and modern life may find this work compelling. The opening of "Steppenwolf" presents a preface from an unnamed narrator who was once Harry Haller's lodging neighbor. Through his recollections, we learn about Haller's introverted, highly intellectual, but socially withdrawn nature, as well as the deep loneliness and inner turmoil that define his existence. The main narrative then moves to Haller's own voice, chronicling a day in his life filled with mundane routine, discontent, and the sense of being out of place among ordinary, "bourgeois" society. This sense of alienation culminates in a mysterious encounter with a sign for a "Magic Theatre," promising experiences "not for everybody" and "for madmen only," which sparks a new sense of possibility. The opening concludes with a treatise that philosophically describes Haller's dual nature (half-man, half-wolf), his struggle between intellectual desires and primal instincts, and his broader alienation from the norms of bourgeois society.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Steppenwolf
- Author credits: Hesse, Hermann (1877–1962)
- Catalogue language: English
- Translator credits: Creighton, Basil (1885–1989)
Catalogue subjects
- Civilization, Western -- Fiction
- Germany -- Social life and customs -- 20th century -- Fiction
- Intellectuals -- Germany -- Fiction
- Life -- Fiction
- Men -- Germany -- Psychology -- Fiction
- Psychological fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: German Literature
- Category: Novels
- Nobel Prizes in Literature
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.
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