Booklover — A Journey: Time to Travel Again

Column Editor: Donna Jacobs (Retired, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425) <donna.jacobs55@gmail.com>

After more than a year of travel lockdown, who wouldn’t be intrigued with a title The Journey to the East? It is not a big leap to learn that the journey is not only on a geographic road but also a spiritual road. And throw in a little time travel as well. Both are fitting for the aftermath of pandemic induced isolation.

Hermann Hesse was awarded the 1946 Nobel Prize in Literature “for his inspired writings which, while growing in boldness and penetration, exemplify the classical humanitarian ideals and high qualities of style.” He penned The Journey to the East prior to receiving the Nobel recognition and this novella is described as a study for the 1943 larger work entitled The Glass Bead Game, his last major work.

A little exploration into Hesse’s life reveals that his family most obviously influenced his spiritual exploration. His mother was born at a mission in India. Both parents served with a missionary society in India. His father worked for a publishing company specializing in theological texts among other literary works. Swabian Pietism was a major influence in the Hesse home. Hesse’s grandfather, Hermann Gundent, instilled a wonder for reading that opened Hesse’s eyes to the world. As many do though, he rebelled against these influences, leaving the Evangelical Theological Seminary of Maulbroon Abbey where he fled to a field and began a “journey” of alternate behavior, even attempting suicide.

But then he found work in a bookshop, developing relationships with books instead of friends. This lead to continued immersion and exposure to a grand variety of works. Poetry was his first medium with publication, good reviews and financial stability from writing soon following.

Now for a journey, written in a first person narrative. This tale describes a League of creative individuals who travel in both space and time in search of truth that can be divined from the masters.

The story opens: “It was my destiny to join in a great experience. Having had the good fortune to belong to the League, I was permitted to be a participant in a unique journey. What wonder it had at the time! How radiant and comet-like it seemed, and how quickly it has been forgotten and allowed to fall into disrespute (sic). For this reason, I have decided to attempt a short description of this fabulous journey….”

This member, who one might argue is Hesse himself, becomes disillusioned with the League and makes the choice to leave. The distance created by his exit also provides the groundwork for the next level of exploration and membership. And on we go with the journey of exploration, for truth, and ultimately back to oneself. “For our goal was not only the East, or rather the East was not only a country and something geographical, but it was the home and youth of the soul, it was everywhere and nowhere, it was the union of all times.”

“if time travel is possible, where are the tourists from the future?” — stephen hawking, A Brief history of Time

reader’s roundup continued from page 28

versions of the court opinions, I think it would be appropriate to include the citations, since these citations can be used as a starting point for additional research. However, it appears that this is an editorial decision that applies to the entire “Defining Documents” series, and for consistency sake, I understand why the citations have been omitted from the capital punishment volumes.

Overall, this is a valuable resource for undergraduate and AP high school students seeking a historical overview of capital punishment in the U.S. Its organizational structure features topics that continue to spark controversy; and the combination of historical source documents and critical essays aid in understanding the nuances of capital punishment. Further, the impressive lists of additional readings included with the critical essays provide an excellent springboard for further research. And finally, one practical feature of this resource is that it’s available electronically and in print, which is particularly important in this time of remote learning.

ATG Reviewer Rating: I need this available somewhere in my shared network. (I probably do not need this book, but it would be nice to get it within three to five days via my network catalog.)