The Glass Bead Game

by Hermann Hesse

In the remote Kingdom of Castalia, the scholars of the Twenty Third century play the Glass Bead Game. The elaborately coded game is a fusion of all human knowledge - of maths, music, philosophy, science, and art. Intrigued as a school boy, Joseph Knecht becomes consumed with mastering the game as an adult. As Knecht fulfils his life-long quest he must contend with unexpected dilemmas and the longing for a life beyond the ivory tower.

• ISBN10: 009928362X
• ISBN13: 9780099283621
• Publish Date: 6 July 2000 (first published 11 June 1970)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Vintage Publishing
• Imprint: Vintage Classics
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 544
• Language: English

Reviews

[ayla_abbott]

It's probably great, but not my style. One of the few books I've had to put down because I just couldn't get into it. Like Gravity's Rainbow or Dhalgren...just couldn't see the point of going on, even after making it halfway through. If you love biographies, and science fiction, and whatever this is, you'll probably love it.

[pamela]

DNF'd at 10%. This book read like nothing but densely packed intellectual snobbery.

Might one day try it in German, as I always worry about translation. Nuance is very important, especially in Hesse, I've found. Maybe it will seem less pretentious with the literal construction of the German language.