Part of the Macmillan Collector's Library, a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket-sized classics with gold-foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is translated from German by Hilda Rosner with an introduction by John Peacock.
Siddhartha, the son of a wealthy Brahmin, is unable to find peace within his own religion and community so sets off on his travels through India in search of enlightenment. First he spends time with a group of ascetics called Samanas. For a while he embraces their doctrine and rejects all worldly goods. When he hears about a man called Gotama the Buddha he leaves the Samanas. However Buddhist teaching disappoints him and he realizes that self-discovery must come from his own experiences. He rejects the spiritual life, takes a lover and becomes a rich merchant. But after some years, dissatisfied with materialism, he takes off again in search of the spiritual peace he longs for.
"He was an interesting figure who, through his refusal to acknowledge his limitations or the times he lived in, brought something entirely new to the novel."
Philip Hensher, Spectator
"A trusted guide for a generation of readers whose faith in institutions was destroyed by the First World War."
Adam Kirsch, New Yorker
"A subtle distillation of wisdom, stylistic grace and symmetry of form."
The Sunday Times
