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"The most ruthless of Hesse's many self-exposures." Joseph Mileck
Klein and Wagner tells the story of Friedrich Klein, a middle-aged clerk who has embezzled from his employer and escaped to Italy. However, Klein is not a common criminal, but rather a self-alienated, tormented bourgeois in search of peace and self-fulfillment.
While pondering his fate, Klein recognizes that his primary motivation was a compulsion and urge to murder his wife and children, which he could only avoid by entirely abandoning his old life. This dark drive is associated with the name Wagner, which alludes to the famous composer and also to an actual German schoolteacher who in September 1913 had killed his wife and children.
In spite of his flight, Klein fails to transcend his pain: instead of feeling liberated, he regards himself as a victim of his own thoughts, his brain a kaleidoscope in which the shifting images were directed by somebody else's hand.
Throughout the story, Klein repeatedly ponders suicide. In this desperate situation he meets Teresina, a young blonde courtesan who mingles with the local art crowd. He is increasingly drawn to her, although his stance remains ambivalent. To Klein, something about Teresina symbolized vitality as well as a connection to the eternal feminine. But when Teresina asks him about his background, he refuses to give a straight answer.
Among the most obvious features of Klein and Wagner are the striking autobiographical parallels. By 1919, Hesse's first wife Mia had been diagnosed as mentally ill. The author was still uncertain whether to seek a divorce. In addition, he feared the responsibility for raising their three sons, Bruno, Heiner, and Martin. In the Spring of 1919, Hesse finally succumbed to his urge to escape, left Bern for Ticino and settled down in the mountain village of Montagnola, where he wrote this story.
Whereas the character Klein remains trapped in his identification with Wagner, writing down his story proved instrumental for Hesse in overcoming his deep personal crisis. To Hesse, writing Klein and Wagner fulfilled a clear therapeutic purpose: "Klein is a part of Hesse and will always be; without him, without the transference of my suffering into this mirror, I would not have been able to bear this suffering. It was my salvation that I escaped into solitude and lived completely, day and night, in my writing."
Strongly influenced by Expressionism, Klein and Wagner is a modern "psychodrama" that introduces key themes and motifs that dominates Hesse's writing during the following decade, including some striking connections to Steppenwolf.
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Most authentic book compilation on the Oregon Trail I ever read. The way the diaries are brought to life from over 170 years ago is a remarkable achievement. Top book of year so far for me for today June 01, 2024 review Candice
This author is a breathe of fresh air in a world of lies and coverups. He brings ancient writings and new science to bring light to mankind. In this amazing work, the well known plato stories from antiquity are now put alongside this new discovery of tablets from beginning of time. This is the most complete explanation of Atlantis every brought to the public. Shame on the governments of Egypt and the world for hiding WHO BUILT THE PHYRAMIDS OF GIZA AND THE SPHINX. Once I read this book I knew why they hid this knowledge. They don't want a population to know how great the world used to be compared to know.
Randomly stumbled upon this book and I am shocked that I haven’t heard about it before. It’s hands down the best story I’ve read in years. People need to read this book. It needs to be turned into a book. This story is just plain awsome. M
This soulful book of personal poetry brought me into the past and into the present---and into my heart.
Read the first book and this 2nd one did not disappoint! Loved every chapter. More please!