Franz von Assisi. by Hermann Hesse Giotto

by Hermann Hesse

"...in Umbria un giovane sconosciuto, spinto solo da un moto di coscienza e in assoluta umiltà, decise nel suo intimo, con serena semplicità, di diventare un modesto seguace del Salvatore. Gli andarono dietro prima due o tre compagni, poi cento, e poi migliaia. Grazie a quest′uomo semplice, dall′Umbria sgorgò una fonte di rinnovamento e s′irradiò una luce di vita di cui un riflesso è giunto fino a noi. Questo eroe, questo sognatore, questo poeta fu Giovanni Bernardone, detto poi San Francesco d′Assisi. Di lui ci è rimasta solo una preghiera, un cantico; ma invece che prose o versi, egli ci ha lasciato il ricordo di una vita semplice e pura... ". Da un viaggio ad Assisi, il giovane Hesse ebbe l′ispirazione per questo racconto dei tempi e della vita del Santo poverello, in cui vide incarnato un ideale di vita in armonia con le forze della natura che poteva parlare profondamente all′anima scontenta dell′uomo moderno, sofferente di "disagio della civiltà′.

Genres: Religion, Biography, Nonfiction, German Literature, Christianity, History, Nobel Prize

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1904

About the author

Many works, including Siddhartha (1922) and Steppenwolf (1927), of German-born Swiss writer Hermann Hesse concern the struggle of the individual to find wholeness and meaning in life; he won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1946.

Other best-known works of this poet, novelist, and painter include The Glass Bead Game , which, also known as Magister Ludi, explore a search of an individual for spirituality outside society.

In his time, Hesse was a popular and influential author in the German-speaking world; worldwide fame only came later. Young Germans desiring a different and more "natural" way of life at the time of great economic and technological progress in the country, received enthusiastically Peter Camenzind , first great novel of Hesse.

Throughout Germany, people named many schools. In 1964, people founded the Calwer Hermann-Hesse-Preis, awarded biennially, alternately to a German-language literary journal or to the translator of work of Hesse to a foreign language. The city of Karlsruhe, Germany, also associates a Hermann Hesse prize.

Reviews

[Bogdan Raț · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked it but I can't give it 3 stars for the same reason Hesse didn't publish it: "a work that's too simple, written in youth's enthusiasm, without profoundness and full of naughtiness, a style in wich in don't find myself anymore".

I can enjoy a simple prose like this and I did. The thing I liked the most about this book were The Legends, laudes creaturarum - Francisc's poem, and the little story from his childhood, about his dream of becoming a knight, all of these in the same mannor he used in The Glass Bead Game, like posthumous writings, many years later...

Some excerpts that I liked:

"- Look, friends, isn’t he thinking that maybe he should find a woman? [...]
- That’s wright, you speak the truth. I’m going to find a bride, but she’s more dear, more wealthy and more beautiful than you can think or imagine.
[...]
And the noble and beautiful bride he was talking about was poverty, wich from now on he will bind to as closely as possible."


From The Legends: How St. Francis answered brother Masseo

"You want to know why me? Why me? Why me? Why does an entire world follow me? It’s something that God gave me, Whose eyes recognize everywhere the good and the bad and His holy eyes didn’t find among sinners anyone worse, more insignificant and more poore than me. To fulfill His wonderful work, God didn’t find any weaker human being on Earth. That’s why he choose me, to embarrass the marvel and the wisdom of the world and for us to realize that all strenght and good comes from Him, not from being and that nobody should praise himself or be haughty."


From The Legends: St. Francis explains brother Leo a vision

"What you saw is indeed so. The big river is this world. The brothers that drowned are those who didn’t keep their oath of poverty. But those who reached carelessly the other shore are the brothers that do not search and do not possess in this world anything. That is why they pass easily from life into eternity."

[Fală Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Am pus trei steluțe acestei cărți pentru impactul ei asupra mea, pentru o un nou motiv de a medita asupra importanței de a ne bucura de lucruri simple, de clipe apropiate, și oameni din apropriere.
Însă a patra stea am pus-o pentru fascinația mea față de Hesse, și privirile sale asupra vieții sfântului de Assisi. Și de felul cum a reprezentat dragostea sa față de Francisc de Assisi și în una din preferatele mele cărți "Peter Camenzind".
O lectură ușurică, mai mult pentru odihnă decât pentru o dezvoltare.

[Jessica Andreea · Rating 3 out of 5]

"O mică rază de soare e de ajuns pentru a lumina foarte mult întuneric."

"Te chinui singur cu lucruri care nici măcar nu sunt aşa cum crezi tu. Nu poți să faci de la bun început lucrurile cum ți-ai dori."

[Φερειπείν · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ο άγιος Φραγκίσκος της Ασίζης. Χέρμαν Έσσε.
📖📖📖
Ο Έσσε σχεδόν σε κάθε του δημιουργία πετυχαίνει σταθερά δύο παράδοξα. Δύο παράδοξα που υποκειμενικοποιώ καταχρηστικώς γιατί δεν είμαι σίγουρη πως αφορούν κάθε αναγνώστη. Μου επιτρέπει να συμμετέχω στον πυρήνα της δημιουργίας του ενώ ταυτόχρονα επιβεβαιώνει την αποξένωσή μου από αυτήν, γιατί εκείνη την ανθρωπιά του δε θα την οικειοποιηθώ ποτέ. Και το επόμενο είναι πως νοστιμεύει ακόμα και το τελευταίο ψίχουλο μετατρέποντάς το σε αντισταθμιστικό παράγοντα στην απληστία.
Στον άγιο Φραγκίσκο της Ασίζης, αυτή τη μοναδική προσωπικότητα που επηρέασε πλήθος καλλιτεχνών, ο Έσσε μυθιστοριοποιεί τη ζωή του ανθρώπου που γι’ αυτόν υπήρξε ένας μεγάλος οραματιστής και μυστικιστής που επέβαλλε την αρμονία με την παρουσία του και που ο Έσσε θεωρούσε κάτι σε Άγιο- Εστέτ με τον οποίο μπορούσε να ταυτιστεί αλλά και να εξιδανικεύσει.
Στο κείμενό του διαβάζουμε όχι μόνο για τη ζωή του αγίου αλλά κυρίως την αίσθηση του Έσσε για εκείνον που ταίριαζε απόλυτα στην ηθικοαισθητική κοσμοθωρία του Γερμανού δημιουργού.
Η γραφή του αποκτά μια υπερβολική γλυκύτητα που όμως δεν απωθεί. Αντιθέτως γίνεται η κατάλληλη γέφυρα που ενώνει την προσωπικότητα την οποία προσεγγίζει και τη δική του κατάθεση. Ο λόγος του δε γνωρίζει τη συρρίκνωση, τη φθορά, την αποστασιοποίηση. Πλούσιος και ερμηνευτικός γίνεται μια δυναμική παρέμβαση στην ψυχή σου προκαλώντας τη συμπάθεια ακόμα κι αν το θέμα του βιβλίου του δε φαίνεται να σε αφορά.
Μικρή διευκρίνηση : δεν το θεωρώ βιβλίο που θα ικανοποιήσει όλα τα αναγνωστικά γούστα ακόμα κι αν έχετε ασχοληθεί με άλλες δημιουργίες του!

[Suze Geuke]

jong en verlicht Fransje: brb even vogeltjes tot onze heer bekeren.

los van het feit dat hij best een op god en armoe gericht man is, weet hij de levende wezens om zich heen te inspireren. zijn apostelgroepie doet aan als hippiecult, waar ze zonder bezit zingend en verhalend rondtrekken in naam van liefde. ze noemen dan ook iedereen broeder. aandoenlijk. binnenkort maar eens op bedevaart naar zijn altaartje in de ooijpolder!

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poslije Hesseovog poželila sam ponovo uzeti u ruke Kazantzakisovog Franju. Tu drugu knjigu bih i preporučila svima, ukoliko već žele čitati o ovom divnom bogolikom čovjeku.

[Chiara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hermann Hesse su Francesco d’Assisi una bella combinazione, anche se niente di sorprendente (me lo immaginavo esattamente cosí). Bello e sereno, come una fiaba.

[Valerio Brugnoni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Per chi, come me, non fosse tanto interessato alla vita del santo quanto più alla scrittura di Hesse, questo non è un libro che consiglierei.
Comunque, una agiografia singolare, in cui sicuramente spicca per forza evocativa l'ultimo scritto, "Il gioco dei fiori".

[Germán Moya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una obra breve de un autor genial que ensalza la grandeza del pobre de Asís como un hombre excepcional y único, que transgredió a partir de sus obras. Es una biografía y un compedio breve de relatos del Santo y su modo de vida, su amor a la naturaleza y a todas las criaturas. Como en Shiddartha aparece el ser humano que se vuelve superior a través de su interpretación de la vida, de la fe y dey sus actos.

[Alfredo Cordero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es evidente la fuerte influencia de San Francisco en la vida y el trabajo de Hermann Hesse. La monografía, publicada en 1904, otorga un breve y sobrio resumen de la vida de San Francisco. A mi parecer, es en "Las flores de San Francisco", cuento corto sobre la infancia del santo publicado en 1919, que Hesse expresa profundamente sus sentimientos sobre el pater seraphicus, y se refleja claramente en su vida.

[Loud Rocks · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75

[Carlos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestamente, la decisión de incluir el ensayo “San Francisco de Asís y Hermann Hesse” de Fritz Wagner al final de esta edición elevo este libro por encima de lo que hubiera sido sin ella, una recopilación adecuada pero insubstancial. Las primeras dos terceras partes del libro reproducen dos pequeñas biografías de San Francisco escritas por Hermann Hesse, una un poco más lirica que la otra, junto con un puñado de fabulas del Santo y una corta historia de Hesse sobre un evento imaginado en la niñez de Francisco. Solo esta última muestra la habilidad literaria de Hesse, siendo capaz de llegar al fondo del alma de su protagonista. En cambio, el ensayo de Wagner sirve para atar todo el libro y analizar la influencia de la vida del Santo en la totalidad de la obra de Hesse. Wagner no solo llega a darle al lector un nuevo ángulo por el cual entender muchas de las novelas de Hesse, desde Peter Camenzind a Demian, pero también añade al entendimiento de como Hesse se veía a sí mismo y a su llamado artístico.

[Silas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este livro é um outro mergulho magnífico na mente de Hesse. Dividido em várias partezinhas, como todo texto de Hesse, conta mais do autor do que de seus personagens. A narrativa da vida e das lendas de Francisco é agradável e deixa claro o porquê de o santo ser admirado ao longo dos séculos. Mas é na lenda "O jogo das flores" que toda a poética de Hesse se manifesta; onde lembrei o que me faz gostar tanto do autor. No final, há uma análise (excessivamente) minuciosa por Wagner, que me deu vontade de ler "Peter Camenzind" quão breve puder. Enfim, o livro em geral acaba sendo bem simples, por isso daria nota 3/5, mas a escrita do texto da infância de Francisco é tão envolvente que me fez adicionar uma estrela à obra. Livro obrigatório para os admiradores de Hesse.

[Gabriel Tamaș · Rating 3 out of 5]

O scriere dezamăgitoare (din partea lui Hesse), dar o ediție și mai dezamăgitoare din partea editurii Rao.

Scurta hagiografie romanțată pe care Hesse o face Sf. Francisc de Assisi pare grăbită, neconcludentă și expeditivă. Eseul critic cuprins în această ediție reia o bună parte din hagiografie.

Pe de altă parte, deși am putut înțelege necesitatea acestei ediții pentru cercetarea literară, editura Rao a satisfăcut această nevoie într-o manieră îndoielnică. Traducerea are un stil bolovănos, reminiscent al "limbii de lemn" din secolul trecut. În același timp, fără adăugarea micii narațiuni despre copilăria Sfântului și a studiului comprehensiv de la final, această ediție ar fi fost ceva mai mult decât o broșură.

[Anton Raul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crâmpeie din admirația lui Hesse pentru Francisc. :)
I-am dat 5 stele pentru că, la acel moment, autorul a scris așa cum a putut mai bine și, la urma urmei, nu poți numerota dragostea cuiva pentru altcineva, în cazul de fața a lui Hesse fața de Francis d’Assisi, nu ar fi corect. Așadar, nu am putut oferi mai puțin de 5 stele. Cărticica este un mic omagiu adus de autor personalității Sfântului și este atât de onestă încât aveam senzația ca nu a fost niciodată menită să fie tipărită și citită de publicul larg.

[David Karacsony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hessének egy fiatalkori műve, Szent Ferenc életét regéli el, egy nagyon lelkes, egyszersmind naív felhanggal. Ha jól emlékszem, ezt a művét Hesse nem is publikálta, talán nem véletlenül, egy középkori hagiográfia stílusában megírt legendagyűjtemény, minden megvan benne, ami kell, de semmi bravúros vagy rendkívüli. Ferenc fiatalon duhajkodott, aztán megtért, lett serege, Rómában kért engedélyt a közösség alakításhoz, aztán meghalt egy ponton. Kedves, informatív olvasmány, talán egy óra alatt elolvasható.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful poetic introduction to the life of Frances of Assisi through Hermann Hesse, for which I am so grateful. In the times of turmoil - our current times of turmoil - it becomes evidently necessary to go back to basics, nature, our human essence, the source of good we can be, much like St Frances was in medieval times. Maybe one day, many hundred years from now, we will find out that we can survive, thrive and live well only through unity, until then, we shall enjoy the news.

[Manolis P. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Πολύ μέτριο βιβλίο στα όρια του κακού.
Λείπει αυτή η σπιρτάδα ,αυτή η ζωντάνια στην περιγραφή της ζωής ενός τόσο σπουδαίου Αγίου.
Δεν έχω διαβάσει κάποια άλλη μονογραφία για τον Φραγκίσκο της Ασίζης αλλά χρειάζεται.
Δεν είμαι ιδιαίτερος φαν το Έσσε σε ότι έχω διαβάσει και αυτό το βιβλιαράκι το επιβεβαιώνει.

[Philipp · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is Hesse's writing style that allows the story of Franz von Assisi to blossom with playful splendour. Hesse paints him as a pious and warm-hearted philanthropist caught between self-discovery and the ideal. There are a number of parallels to Hesse's life and his search for himself and the meaning of life, as well as in his other works.

[JOSE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excelente lectura...

Para conocer la vida de San Francisco de Asís nada como leer a Herman Hesse. Título descriptivo, sencillo de leer, de entender...de digerir.
La vida de San Francisco será siempre una lectura que alimenta el alma y el espíritu.

[Pascoal Martorelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Impressionante o destino do pobre na igreja contemporânea. De retiro a retirado. Não é um dos melhores livros de Hesse, coisa que já é auto acusada no prólogo, mas diante da chatice da maioria das leituras cristãs essa passa leve e inspiradora.

[José Luis · Rating 4 out of 5]

de uma visita recente a Assis, na Itália, veio a necessidade de conhecer melhor a vida de São Francisco de Assis. Este livro do Herman Hesse satisfez plenamente. Curto, baseado em escritos da época, com muitas referências para quem quiser se aprofundar. Valeu demais a leitura

[Ally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overrated.

[Tatiane R. Lima · Rating 2 out of 5]

Vale pela história e lendas de São Francisco de Assis. Contudo, a edição traz textos adicionais que pouco agregam à leitura - pelo contrário, ela se torna repetitiva e arrastada.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Falta clareza, desde o início, sobre a linha mestra que conduz o ensaio.
Somente ao final, no texto de Fritz Wagner, se dá a entender um pouco melhor o propósito da obra.

[FelipeEmos · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a pretty small book, especially the actual biography, but I'm glad I've read it. I am very touched by the story of this saint, he was a true yogi.

[Giorgia G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to re-read this when I'm feeling better, I will probably appreciate it more.

[Purple Booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5.

[Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indrukwekkend hoe Franciscus zich wilde vereenzelvigen met Jezus Christus. Durf los te laten en Hem lief te hebben.

[Luis Manuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Impecable relato sobre quién fuera san francisco.