100% had to read one of these in high school.

Hesse's bleak view of the combination of war, money, and technology is truly captivating. It seeps into his later stories, adding a layer of depth and thought-provokingness.

I found myself deeply appreciating this aspect of his work. It's as if he understood the complex and often dark interplay between these forces.

Hesse really is a kindred spirit. His ability to convey such profound ideas through his writing is remarkable.

It makes me wonder how he was able to perceive the world in such a way.

Perhaps it was his own experiences or his敏锐的洞察力 that led him to these conclusions.

Whatever the reason, his work continues to resonate with readers today.

It serves as a reminder of the potential dangers and consequences of war, the allure and power of money, and the rapid advancement of technology.

Hesse's bleak view challenges us to think critically about our own society and the choices we make.

It encourages us to strive for a more just and sustainable world.

Overall, his work is a testament to the power of literature to inspire, educate, and transform.

Tales bring to mind the works of Hans Christian Andersen, yet they possess a unique poetic cadence and themes that are influenced by Asian/Chinese tales and philosophies.

These tales can be classified as fiction, short stories, fairytales, or prose. In fact, Hermann Hesse's stories can be described by any and all of these terms.

The writing is extremely beautiful, and a few stories from the collection evoke a powerful wave of nostalgia. It's that kind of nostalgic feeling where you long for places you've never been and events that haven't occurred.

It's as if Hesse has the ability to transport readers to a realm of imagination and longing, where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur.

His tales are not only entertaining but also thought-provoking, inviting readers to explore deeper themes and emotions.

Whether you're a fan of fairytales or simply appreciate beautifully written stories, Hermann Hesse's collection is sure to captivate and inspire you.

Herman Hesse's collection of stories is truly excellent.

It stands out from the conventional fairy tales, presenting a unique and captivating experience.

The plots are filled with sudden twists that keep the readers on the edge of their seats, constantly surprised and engaged.

The quirky ends add an extra layer of charm and mystery to the stories.

Some of the endings even bear a resemblance to the macabre style of Roald Dahl, leaving a lasting impression on the readers' minds.

Overall, this collection is a must-read for those who appreciate literature that challenges the norms and offers a fresh perspective on storytelling.

It showcases Hesse's remarkable talent for creating vivid and unforgettable worlds within the pages of his stories.

Whether you are a fan of fairy tales or simply looking for something different to read, this collection is sure to delight and entertain.

The stories presented in this book had their merits on the whole.

They were, for the most part, quite nice. However, there was a certain aspect that couldn't be ignored. They seemed rather obvious and overly direct in their moralistic messaging.

It was as if the author was trying too hard to convey a particular lesson, which at times made the stories feel a bit forced.

Moreover, the quality of the stories felt somewhat uneven.

Some of them were truly interesting, captivating the reader's attention and engaging their imagination.

These stories had a certain charm and were able to draw the reader in.

On the other hand, there were also some stories that simply did not resonate all that much.

They failed to connect with the reader on a deeper level and left the reader feeling rather indifferent.

This inconsistency in the quality of the stories was a bit of a drawback and detracted from the overall enjoyment of the book.

Despite these flaws, the book still had its moments and could be enjoyable for those who were willing to overlook the more obvious moralizing and unevenness.

The evaluation often depends on the mood that the book has conveyed to me, so that the sentiment has prevailed over the quality.

And the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm are dark, but they are also bizarre, entertaining, and give some hope.

Whereas Heese's works overly revolve around death, murders, melancholy, and hopeless situations.

This difference in themes and atmospheres significantly affects my perception and evaluation of these two types of literature.

The Grimms' fairy tales, despite their darkness, manage to offer a glimmer of something positive, perhaps a lesson or a moral that can be learned.

On the other hand, Heese's preoccupation with the more macabre aspects of life can sometimes make his works feel overwhelming and a bit too one-sided.

However, it's important to note that both have their own unique charm and value, and it's up to the individual reader to decide which they prefer.

Herman Hesse's narrative is truly a remarkable thing. It is filled to the brim with beautifully sound poetry that seems to dance off the pages.

There is also a certain resemblance between his writing style and that of Alexandre Dumas. This similarity adds an interesting layer to his work, making it all the more captivating.

I have made up my mind that I will definitely read more books by this writer. He has a charm and a sweetness about his words that draw me in and keep me engaged.

His ability to create vivid images and tell compelling stories is truly a gift. I can't wait to explore more of his literary world and see what other treasures I will discover.

Herman Hesse is a writer who has truly left an impression on me, and I look forward to many more wonderful reading experiences with his works.

I initially thought this collection was off to a great start. Out of the first five stories, I was truly charmed by four of them. However, I didn't have much of a reaction to the remaining seventeen. The change seems to have occurred after 1910. All of the ones I enjoyed were written before that, while the rest were written after.

There were several things I liked about the first few stories. "The Dwarf" seemed to be the closest thing to a fairy tale in the entire collection, and I simply enjoyed Hesse's style in this fairly uncomplicated story. I felt the same way about "Shadow Play". Both "A Man by the Name of Ziegler" and "Dr. Knoegle's End" were humorous and satirical, gently poking fun at people and their ideas. Of these four, "The Dwarf" and "Dr. Knoegle" were a real treat for me.

While not everything after 1910 was bad, it seemed like Hesse moved away from storytelling and into the pulpit or onto the soapbox. Since the stories don't have to do with religion specifically, but they do become preachy and moralistic after the earlier efforts.

So, it's a mixed bag. I'm giving it three stars solely based on the enjoyment of the stories I mentioned first, which ranged from 3-5 stars. The others were 2 or less. That may seem like an inflated rating considering there were so few stories that appealed to me, but those that did made the entire collection worthwhile for me.

Hermann Hesse is an author who entered my life with the book Demian and immediately found its place in my "I would read it if it was written about mud" category. This book contains 25 fables written by Hesse in different periods and arranged chronologically. First of all, I must state that although the book is called Fables, I don't think all the stories are fables. Some seemed like experiments, some like short stories, and some were truly like fables in my opinion. And if you start the whole book with the expectation of Grimm-style fables, you may be disappointed. I think these differences are due to the fact that each one was written in a different period. Since Hermann Hesse added parts of his own life to what he wrote, it is possible to see the reflections of his state of mind, his fields of interest, and his philosophical thoughts in his stories.

The feature I liked most about the stories or fables was their delicate and profound nature towards humanity. I think this is also the reason why the story of the city was one of my favorites. My other favorites from the book were The Dwarf, Someone Named Ziegler, and Augustus, the King of the Jews. As I also said in my review of Demian, Hesse was a stormy and depressive writer, and you can feel this clearly in his works. We know that the reason for this was the war, and because of his humanist thoughts, he lived in exile, away from his country. Even in these short stories and fables, you can see his thoughts on war, his interest in Eastern cultures and mysticism. Like in the books of writers such as Kafka, if you also master the life of the author, you can understand his works much better and make much better analyses. Therefore, if you have the intention of reading Hesse, I would recommend that you also take a look at the author's life. The next book I will read by Hesse will be Siddhartha, and I can't pass without saying that I'm already incredibly excited.

I don't understand why this book isn't being published

I've been delving into this reading material on and off for several months now.

However, ultimately, my German proficiency is simply not at a high enough level yet to fully extract the maximum value from this.

I truly hope to come back and revisit it when I'm feeling more confident and fluent in the language.

From what little I can understand so far, there is indeed some really good stuff in here.

It makes me eager to improve my German skills further so that I can fully appreciate and understand all the wonderful content that this has to offer.

I'm determined to keep working hard and learning more German, so that one day, I can read this without any difficulties and gain all the knowledge and insights it contains.

Lovely stories have always been a source of great comfort and entertainment for me. They offer a wonderful escape from the profound and often complex ideas of philosophers like Schopenhauer.

When I delve into a charming story, it's as if I'm transported to a different world, one filled with warmth, kindness, and beautiful emotions. These stories have the power to soothe my soul and bring a smile to my face, even on the most difficult of days.

In contrast, Schopenhauer's works can be quite heavy and thought-provoking. While I appreciate his insights and the depth of his philosophy, sometimes I need a break from the intensity. Lovely stories provide that much-needed respite, allowing me to relax and simply enjoy the beauty of a well-told tale.

Whether it's a heartwarming fable, a romantic novel, or a humorous short story, each one has its own unique charm. They remind me that there is still goodness and beauty in the world, and that sometimes, it's okay to just let go and lose myself in a lovely story.

Zipes acknowledges that Hesse's depictions of women are indeed problematic.

Often, women are merely background characters or serve as instruments for the development of the male leads.

Rarely are they shown as good people.

However, despite the fact that these are essentially man stories set in a man's world, I still have a great deal of affection for Hesse.

His writing is truly unique, with a strange, enchanting quality that draws the reader in.

It is also intense, capable of eliciting strong emotions and making the reader think deeply about the human condition.

Perhaps it is this very intensity that makes up for the shortcomings in his portrayal of women.

Or maybe it is the fact that his stories offer a window into a world that is both familiar and yet completely different from our own.

Whatever the reason, I continue to be drawn to Hesse's work and look forward to exploring more of his stories in the future.