Siddhartha

An Indian Tale

By: Hermann Hesse

Narrated by: Arthur Brown

Length: 5 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's Summary

Herman Hesse, the German-Swiss poet, novelist and painter, was born in 1877 in Calw, Germany. His parents were Christian missionaries, with interests in book publishing, and young Herman grew up in a world of theological discussion. Through his grandfather, who had worked in India as a missionary, he also possessed a keen awareness of Eastern philosophy and spirituality.

Siddhartha, a story based on the early life of Gautama Buddha, is concerned with the human search for self-knowledge and authentic spirituality. Hesse had written the first part of the book easily enough, but had to stop for a year with depression, before completing it in 1922. The book is a synthesis of Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist, and Christian thought, though Hesse rejected all conventional religion for a more individual and personal path. As he wrote: ‘The only thing of importance to me is being able to love the world, without looking down on it, without hating it and myself - being able to regard it and myself and all beings with love, admiration, and reverence.’

He became popular for his spiritual writing in the American counter-culture scene of the 1960s - and since his death in 1962, he has been one of the best-selling German writers in the world.

©1922 White Crow Productions Ltd (P)2009 White Crow Productions Ltd

One of tye best Hesse novels.

What made the experience of listening to Siddhartha the most enjoyable?

This is a very good performance of a realy wonderful and insightful book. It provides a very accessable look at Budest concepts and life in india during the time of the Buda. It does not pretend to be a teacher or a preacher, it simply tells the story in an eligant simple way and alows the reader/listner to be carried along and emersed in this insightful and moving parable. Highly recomended.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sidartha is the main character, he is very likeable and interesting, providing a good vehicle for the Budest concepts Hesse is trying to convey.

What about Arthur Brown’s performance did you like?

The narrator did a great job of presenting this lively text without over acting or remaining too bland. The listner is imediatly drawn into the story and will notice the narration very little. As it should be.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A journey into the heart of Budisim

Slow but captivating - worth the listen!

This book is a well-read classic - so we know the content is superb! Still, if you don't bring yourself to the material - you'll get nothing out of it. (Is that statement sufficiently Buddhist?) Anyway, the narrator - although mellow and methodical - really lent a nice tone to the reading. This is a story about the primogenitor of Buddhism - so it BETTER be mellow and methodical. Besides, it's fairly short - so give it a try! I thought it was worth the credit!

Enlightening story

The story makes your think and place yourself in so many situations and places. It have me clearer meaning to we are all one and to the insignificant meaning to time.

Excellent narration

The God of Hellfire himself, that very same Arthur Brown. I've loved his narrations for years but only just realized he and the musician are the same person.

Great voice. Great story. Terrible engineering.

Mouth noise was sickening.
One of the worst editing/engineering jobs I’ve ever heard which I had to pay for.
Which is really too bad. Arthur Brown’s voice and performance were so good.
But the unwanted noises were so distracting I was hard to concentrate.

Absolutely compelling story!!!

Masterful story narrated by gifted story teller . I have read the book more than once and watched the movie of Siddartha. The book being narrated is the most potent version, deeply moving, profoundly wise.

For old and young, wise and foolish, good and evil...

Wow. I did a good bit of crying as I listened to this book. I'm going to hear it again as soon as I've finished it. I'll recommend it to my kids as a book to read now and then again, every so often, until they are old. Wow.

Great story, good narration

I really enjoyed the story and got a lot out of it to think on.

For the narration, I really enjoyed his voice, it was extremely pleasant to listen to, but I listen to audiobooks whilst driving and he quite often lowers his voice toward the end of a paragraph or statement which is really difficult to hear in a moving car. I wish he stayed more consistent in his projection. Other than that, it was a lovely listen.

A wonderful journey

I wish I had found this book a long time ago. I will make a point to listen again in a quiet place to help evoke the visuals contained within. The journey this book takes you on, though set far away is one that we all take just in different forms. Truly a classic.

One to be read and re-read over and over

The narrator did a wonderful job, the audio is clear and the characters discernable.

What a great story. Never has a book done such a wonderful job conveying the oneness of all things.

Never has a book allowed me to look at thoughts and words in such a new light of understanding.