Hermann Hesse books in order
Nobel Prize winning German-Swiss poet, novelist and painter
- Lived
- 1877–1962
- Country
- Germany
- Books
- 27
Hermann Hesse published 14 novels, 4 novellas, 5 short story collections, 1 non-fiction book, 2 poetry collections and 1 other book, beginning with Peter Camenzind (1904). The best-known is Siddhartha (1922).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Hermann Hesse
Highest rated
Magister Ludi
Rated 4.2 out of 5 by 87 readers.
Shortest way in
Journey to the East
One of the most-read, at about 118 pages.
Standalone novels in order
Peter Camenzind (1904)
Beneath the Wheel (1906)
Gertrud (1910)
Rosshalde (1914)
Demian (1919)
Kinderseele (1919)
Steppenwolf (1927)
Narcissus and Goldmund (1930)
The Glass Bead Game (1943)
Magister Ludi (1949)
Demain (1958)
Narziss and Goldmund (1959)
My Belief (1974)
Damian (1986)
Novellas in order
Knulp (1915)
Siddhartha (1922)
Journey to the East (1932)
Strange News from Another Star (1972)
Short story collections in order
Klingsor's Last Summer (1920)
Fabulierbuch (1935)
Stories of Five Decades (1954)
Pictor's Metamorphoses (1977)
The Fairy Tales of Hermann Hesse (1995)
Non-fiction in order
If the War Goes On (1971)
Poetry in order
Poems (1963)
Wandering (1972)
Other books in order
In Sight of Chaos (1998)
Film and TV adaptations
- Siddhartha (1972)Film · from Siddhartha
- Steppenwolf (1974)Film · from Steppenwolf
- Narcissus and Goldmund (2020)Film · from Narcissus and Goldmund
About Hermann Hesse
Hermann Karl Hesse was a German-Swiss poet and novelist, and winner of the 1946 Nobel Prize in Literature. His interest in Eastern religious, spiritual, and philosophical traditions, combined with his involvement with Jungian analysis, helped shape his literary work. His best-known novels include Demian, Steppenwolf, Siddhartha, Narcissus and Goldmund, and The Glass Bead Game, each of which explores an individual's search for authenticity, self-knowledge, and spirituality.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Hermann Hesse FAQ
- How many books has Hermann Hesse written?
- Hermann Hesse published 14 novels, 4 novellas, 5 short story collections, 1 non-fiction book, 2 poetry collections and 1 other book that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Hermann Hesse's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Siddhartha.
- What is Hermann Hesse's last book?
- Narziss and Goldmund (1959).
- What is Hermann Hesse's most famous book?
- Siddhartha (1922) is Hermann Hesse's most widely read book.
- Which Hermann Hesse books have been adapted?
- 3 books have been adapted for film or TV, including Siddhartha (film, 1972), Steppenwolf (film, 1974) and Narcissus and Goldmund (film, 2020).
- Can I read Hermann Hesse's books for free?
- Yes. 3 books by Hermann Hesse are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like Hermann Hesse
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Georges Duhamel
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Gustave Flaubert
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Bertha von Suttner
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Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.