A twist and turn through a disillusioned man’s life. It’s easy to see why more than a few young people fall in love with this novel. The themes of feeling greater than what is around you, and a lack of connection with others and the meaningless in the world can resonate in someone still maturing. Indeed we may be all left to our interpretations, and the meaning Hesse originally aspired to: a late-middle aged man reaching an inflection point in his life as he realises his dreams are being thwarted by the pace of time, is not too different to the transition of life into adulthood. Perhaps this novel is far more powerful for those in their 40s and 50s, but perhaps the problems we face in life are not unique, and it is special that young men can also find solace in the story of Haller re-discovering the joys of life.