Hermann Hesse (July 2, 1877-August 9, 1962) was a German poet and writer. Known for his emphasis on the spiritual development of the individual, the themes of Hesse's work are largely reflected in his own life. While popular in his own time, especially in Germany, Hesse became hugely influential worldwide during the 1960s countercultural movement and is now one of the most translated European authors of the 20th century. His works include Demian (1919), Siddhartha (1922), Steppenwolf (Der Steppenwolf, 1927), The Glass Bead Game (Das Glasperlenspiel, 1943). His awards include the Nobel Prize in Literature (1946), Goethe Prize (1946), Pour la Mertie (1954).
