This Side: Stories

"This Side" is a collection of 5 stories, which delve into themes related to nature, love and the search for meaning. Several of these have clear Jungian and Nietzschean influence. Hay Moon has comparisons to Kolb, where the character Hamburger is depicted lacking a deep, foundational essence. This makes him a surface-level idealist who engages with the works of Nietzsche and Ruskin only through oversimplified versions, revealing his inability to truly comprehend their depth, especially Nietzsche's principle of "amor fati". His claims about the unique influence of geniuses on history come across as insincere. In contrast, Peter Abderegg emerges as an epitome of true ideals due to his undeniable inner resolve and firm beliefs. Intriguingly, Hesse had similarly referenced Nietzsche about thirty years earlier, highlighting the same superficial attributes of Hamburger here in Hay Moon.

"The Marble Saw" (Die Marmorsage, 1908), the protagonist's idealism is continuously challenged and ultimately dismantled by the cynicism of the character Gustav Becker. Hesse's narrative underscores the transitory nature of optimism, likening it to fleeting moments of fairy tale happiness.

This edition contains these critical stories:

From Childhood

The Marble Saw

Hay Moon

The Latin Student

A Journey on foot in Autumn