> the revival in popularity of hesse's works has been credited to their association with some of the popular themes of the 1960s counterculture (or hippie) movement. in particular, the quest-for-enlightenment theme of "siddhartha", "journey to the east", and "narcissus and goldmund" resonated with those espousing counter-cultural ideals. the "magic theatre" sequences in steppenwolf were interpreted by some as drug-induced psychedelia although there is no evidence that hesse ever took psychedelic drugs or recommended their use. in large part, the hesse boom in the united states can be traced back to enthusiastic writings by two influential counter-culture figures: colin wilson and timothy leary. hesse became the most widely read and translated european author of the 20th century. > hesse, the hermit of montagnola (the swiss village where he lived from 1919), became a spiritual guru for a new generation searching for an alternative way of living.
Germany