North Atlantic Books, Sachbücher, The Seasons of the Soul (Englisch, Hermann Hesse, 2011)

68 spiritual poems from the Nobel Prize-winning author of Siddhartha, Steppenwolf, and The Glass Bead Game&mdash who inspired millions as he forged cultural bridges between the East and West. Lyrical insights and wisdom for anyone seeking a more meaningful life, a reconnection with nature, and a deeper relationship with the divine. Vowing at an early age &ldquo to be a poet or nothing at all,&rdquo Hermann Hesse rebelled against formal education, focusing on a rigorous program of independent study that included literature, philosophy, art, and history. One result of these efforts was a series of novels that became counterculture bibles that remain widely influential today. Another was a body of evocative spiritual poetry. Published for the first time in English, these vivid, probing short works reflect deeply on the challenges of life and provide a spiritual solace that transcends specific denominational hymns, prayers, and rituals. The Seasons of the Soul offers valuable guidance in poetic form for those longing for a more meaningful life, seeking a sense of homecoming in nature, in each stage of life, and in a renewed relationship with the divine. Extensive quotations from his prose introduce each theme addressed in the book: love, imagination, nature, the divine, and the passage of time. A foreword by Andrew Harvey reintroduces us to a figure about whom some may have believed everything had already been said. Thoughtful commentary throughout from translator Ludwig Max Fischer helps readers understand the poems within the context of Hesse&rsquo s life.