Steppenwolf
A story that focuses on the loneliness and suffering of the protagonist, Harry Haller, who feels that he has no place in a world filled with meaningless frivolity. Having decided to take his own life a chance encounter causes him to change his views and he begins to learn ways to enjoy life. One of the most misunderstood of his novels the book is, according to Hesse, about the possibilities of transcendence and healing.
Themes & atmosphere
What you might want to know about Steppenwolf
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
Harry Haller is a fifty-something intellectual who walks the streets of a small German city hating bourgeois life and considering suicide. A pamphlet about the Steppenwolf and a girl named Hermine offer another door.
Steppenwolf was first published in 1927. It is in the public domain in the United States; UK and EU copyright depends on the rule applied to Hesse's death year (1962).
Yes. Steppenwolf blends realistic narrative, philosophical essay, and surreal sequences (especially the Magic Theater). Many readers find the middle portion demanding. The novel is shorter than its reputation, around 250 pages.
Steppenwolf was written by Hermann Hesse, published in 1927 by AST.
Steppenwolf is 224 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, Steppenwolf takes most readers 3 to 5 hours to finish.
Steppenwolf is a standalone novel by Hermann Hesse, not part of a series.
Steppenwolf is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.