Siddhartha

Siddhartha was a mid-century revelation to generations of Western students new to Eastern religions. While it no longer brings the shock of the new, Hesse's story of a lifelong seeker of inner peace still has the enduring purity of myth or fable. Siddhartha and his more conventional friend, Govinda, set out on their quest together but take different paths when Govinda chooses to follow an enlightened master, while Siddhartha believes that true wisdom can't be found by following signposts erected by others. The new translation and production here are fine, though Baron Christian's voice gives more pleasure than his pronunciation. B.G. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

February 27, 2017
Actor Ansdell guides listeners in his firm and gentle voice through Hesse’s lyrical prose depicting the self-discovery journey of his protagonist, Siddhartha. Ansdell’s pacing and English accent give his reading for the audiobook an air of philosopher’s wisdom. Ansdell is especially good at pauses and inflections that express Siddhartha’s moods of exaltation and utter despair at various points in his life as a young Brahman, an ascetic, a lover, businessman, and then as a father and elderly recluse who sits by the river and finally experiences the peace and tranquility he has always sought. Published in German in 1922 and in English in 1951, the revival of Hesse’s novel in this era of widespread interest in Eastern religions offers Ansdell a vehicle for his diverse narrative talents.