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A review by marcio
Knulp by Hermann Hesse
5.0
I lately noticed that I am re-reading some books I own as if there isn't a bunch of others waiting for me patiently.
"Knulp" by Herman Hesse was one of these books I ended up re-reading while visiting my family in my hometown last August. It seemed to be a quick and short read. it is indeed. Yet, in my humble opinion, it is hard to finish it unscathed.
The book is divided into three smaller books or chapters, and in each one, we learn a little more about Knulp's wandering life. Being a very friendly person, he is welcomed in most places and people enjoy his company. But he is also a loner, he seems to fear becoming closer to anyone more than the necessary to be able to move on. It is in the third and last book, when our old and ill hero is about to abandone life, that we come to understand Knulp life decisions and if he really was ever assured of them. It is in such a moment that we are also presented to a beautiful and poetic, conversation between an agonizing Knulp and God.
Knulp may be a wonderer, but not a "good for nothing" or an outcast. While exerting his freedom, he is also quite responsible, loyal, respectiful. It is just that we, as a society, tend to think and see such a person as unable to have a moral life. And in this respect, Knulp seemed to me like a great-great grandfather of another character I love pretty much, Holden Caulfield.
It is a nice, short and beautiful book.
"Knulp" by Herman Hesse was one of these books I ended up re-reading while visiting my family in my hometown last August. It seemed to be a quick and short read. it is indeed. Yet, in my humble opinion, it is hard to finish it unscathed.
The book is divided into three smaller books or chapters, and in each one, we learn a little more about Knulp's wandering life. Being a very friendly person, he is welcomed in most places and people enjoy his company. But he is also a loner, he seems to fear becoming closer to anyone more than the necessary to be able to move on. It is in the third and last book, when our old and ill hero is about to abandone life, that we come to understand Knulp life decisions and if he really was ever assured of them. It is in such a moment that we are also presented to a beautiful and poetic, conversation between an agonizing Knulp and God.
Knulp may be a wonderer, but not a "good for nothing" or an outcast. While exerting his freedom, he is also quite responsible, loyal, respectiful. It is just that we, as a society, tend to think and see such a person as unable to have a moral life. And in this respect, Knulp seemed to me like a great-great grandfather of another character I love pretty much, Holden Caulfield.
It is a nice, short and beautiful book.