Hermann Hesse was born on 2 July 1877 in Calw, Germany. He died on 9 August 1962 in Montagnola, Switzerland. His family was rooted in Swabian Pietism and the Christian mission, specifically pertaining to India. The deep dedication of Hesse’s family to evangelical tasks and their educational aspects gave important, but also conflicting impulses to the adolescent. Hesse’s father Johannes was the son of a country doctor in Estonia. Johannes’ delicate constitution and spiritual frame of mind led him to a career in missionary work in Calw. He eventually succeeded Hermann Hesse’s maternal grandfather Dr. Hermann Gundert as publisher of theological materials for the mission. Dr. Gundert had made a name not only as a successful missionary to India, but also as a scholar who had published…
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Citation: Gottschalk, Gunther. "Hermann Hesse". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 13 February 2004; last revised 04 January 2005. [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=2115, accessed 21 November 2024.]
