Beneath The Wheel, by Hermann Hesse

This is one of my favourite books by Hermann Hesse, and there is conjecture that it's almost autobiographical in some respects.

The story revolves around a young Hans Giebenrath of a Black Forest village, and his life in academia as it was back then. He was pushed toward gaining a scholarship, though at no point was it apparent that he actually wished an academic life. He worked hard, obtained the scholarship, and made his entire village proud. But that was far from all Hans did.

His adventures and misadventures are detailed well, and though the ending may be called abrupt by some, we can be assured that Hans probably didn't see the ending as abrupt.

Hesse's depth of character development gave the book a depth belied by the relatively few pages; I am left to wonder why this particular book did not get the acclamation that other landmarks of Hesse's work have enjoyed.

Beneath the Wheel