I read several Hermann Hesse books when I was in high school and quite enjoyed them. Perusing our local book chain rival, Elliot Bay Book Company, I found a little gem that I had never heard anything about before. Peter Camenzind is a somewhat autobiographical novel of a young man from the Alps finding his way in the world. As with his other works, Hesse's gift is not producing a unique story line, but rather presenting a common story line, uniquely. His prose is almost poetic in its descriptions of the young man's village on the shores of an alpine lake. The depth of feeling in each new discovery is transmitted almost frictionlessly as the protagonist ventures across Europe, as first student, and then writer.
Towards the end of the novel, our young hero addresses us directly and says, "I wanted to let mountains, oceans, and green islands speak to you convincingly with their enticing tongues, and wanted to compel you to see the immeasurably varied and exuberant life blossoming and overflowing outside your houses and cities every day. I wanted you to feel ashamed of knowing more about foreign wars, fashions, gossip, literature, and art than of the springs bursting forth outside your towns, than of the forests and meadows through which your railroads speed."
I shared both the book and this passage with a friend, much older than I in years. She said to me, "you identify with this young man, don't you?" I replied affirmatively. She told me that she agreed with much of the book, especially learning to treat others with kindness no matter what the circumstances, but that perhaps the most important message was identifying what was really important in life.
Following the growth of a youth to adulthood in the beautiful settings of both alpine and classical Europe makes this novel appealing all on its own. Its relevancy to many topics today, especially here in the Pacific Northwest, fuel further interest. The transformation that takes place between the wandering youth and the hunchback Boppi is both moving and insightful and polishes this novel's true gem of identifying what is most important in life. I would certainly recommend this work to any individual concerned with their own spiritual growth and finding their own path in this world.
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