Hermann Hesse

HERMANN HESSE (1877–1962) was one of the greatest literary figures of the twentieth century. Born in Calw to a Protestant family, he later rebelled against the classical education that he had received in Swabian monastery schools. Hesse began working as a locksmith and a bookseller, and later took to writing as a profession. Settled in Switzerland, he travelled to various countries, including India. Politically, Hesse was opposed to German militarism, for which he was condemned by the Nazi government. In recognition of his contribution to literature, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1946. His other classic works include Steppenwolf and The Glass Bead Game.