Narcissus and Goldmund

By: Hermann Hesse

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Narcissus and Goldmund is the story of a passionate yet uneasy friendship between two men of opposite character. Narcissus, an ascetic instructor at a cloister school, has devoted himself solely to scholarly and spiritual pursuits. One of his students is the sensual, restless Goldmund, who is immediately drawn to his teacher's fierce intellect and sense of discipline. When Narcissus persuades the young student that he is not meant for a life of self-denial, Goldmund sets off in pursuit of aesthetic and physical pleasures, a path that leads him to a final, unexpected reunion with Narcissus.

©1957 Herman Hesse (P)2009 BBC Audio

Gentle thoughtful journey

This is a beautiful and evocative book. Presenting thought and emotion in a gentle and lush narrative tale.

A classic by Herman Hesse

This book is certainly a most read. The nuances and parrelle meaning throughout the book is astonishing.

Sidhartha in Western Guise

Not as in the American West/Western, but the Western Hemisphere. Goldmund is the Sidhartha-like character, except Goldman does no achieve enlightenment per se. Goldmund is more existential and hedonistic. Narcissus does achieve religious enlightenment in the Catholic sense. Goldmund is the primary character, the protagonist, if you will. He could even be an anti-hero.
Narcissus appears at the beginning and end of Goldmund's life and wanderings. Theirs is an enduring, passive, and spiritual love.
Narcissus' name is changed to John when he takes his priestly vows (also an allusion to Jesus' disciple "whom he loved")...for everyone except Goldmund, who interchanges Narcissus and John briefly, but in the end, he is once again Narcissus to Goldmund. The names Narcissus and Goldmund are highly symbolic.
The book is a very comfortable read and recommended.

Genius

Devastatingly delicious, profoundly deep, many hours will it take to absorb this tome, to digest the meanings entailed within

The story

This is such a good story. The two central characters are such good examples pivoting around concepts that are rarely touched by other writers. very unique!

What a story

Inspiring

Regardless of where we stand, the discussions presented on this story between Narcissus and Goldmund and the contemplations are very profound and provoking. The performance of the narrator is outstanding and the story is marvelous.

personal review

I want someone to mourn and miss me the way way narcissus does for goldmund. It is a brilliant and bright and unselfish love that nothing can compare to. No romance could ever compare. It means so much more because narcissus never truly wanted anything from goldmund but goldmund himself. He wanted for goldmunds happiness for his conversation and for him to simply be himself.  Time or distance did not change this. Neither did his own position nor goldmunds position change his love for his friend. And in the end, when narcissus tells goldmund of his love and goldmund says he always sort of knew and loved him too and my heart hurts for them, these two men who learned of such pure love through one another and no one else's could come close.

Strangely Enjoyable

Gave me much to think about, it's rare that a novel makes me evaluate how I express my values, but this certainly did

lots to think about

i started this a long time ago in print but didn't get very far. the opening is a little sluggish but it is worth it. a very clear statement in 1930 about the horrors of war, prejudice, poverty, and epidemic. prescient in all honestly, as it was published in the interwar years and before the holocaust.

excellent !

i extremely enjoyed this book. the narrator has the voice for herman hesse works. my most memorable moment here is when goldmund is pursuing the mistress of the count and the second visit gets found in their castle by the guards. as if he were set up. the moment actually had my heart pounding as if i were in the moment.

second most memorable moment was when goldmund enters the cabin full of dead family members. such a moment takes one a while to accept if at all. even for the reader let alone being there. hesse paints an etchingly vivid canvas for what death looks like in person. that chapter struck me. goldmund analyzes the scene in such a romantic and artistic manner. it opens a door for new ways to look at death. it also left a heavy feeling of awe and confusion and rejection of the scene. you dont want to believe it but here it is. in your face. and goldmund shows you a sense of glory with his imagery.