Classics with a Message

Hesse, Herman. The Glass Bead Game. London: Random House, 2010.

This is one of Herman Hesse's last novels. Some consider it his greatest. He has refined some of the disturbing features connected to his own life and german society. It is set in the 23rd century.

The League of Journeyers incorporates the contemplative elements of culture into the glass bead game. In Castalia   a society is created which doesn’t waste its time on shallow and frivolous activities. After a musicologist named Lusor Basilensius invents a new language and formulas for the game, whose glass beads resemble an abacus, the game reduces music and mathematics to a common denominator. The game then represents the intellect of literature, music art and mathematics.  

A gifted orphan named Joseph Knecht is taken to play for a music master. When the master plays for him, to put him at ease, Joseph learns the harmony and unity at the heart of all music. He is invited to study at Escholz and  then at 17 goes to Waldzell to study the glass bead game.Joseph meets Plinino Designori  there, an outsider from a wealthy family. Plinio tells him about the shortcomings of the Castalian order. Eventually Joseph becomes the leader of Castalia, for several years, until he decides to leave for the outside world. He believes Castalia can no longer face the intellectual challenges of the world. This novel is satirical, mystical and thought-provoking, but is only for avid readers at a length of 500 pages.