The Prodigy

Name: The Prodigy
Brand: Author's Republic
Availability: InStock
Author: Hermann Hesse
ISBN: 9798240129582

Author: Hermann Hesse

Narrator: Arlo Eddowes

Unabridged: 6 hr 38 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Independently Published

Published: 04/03/2026

Categories: Fiction, Classic, Literary Fiction

Synopsis

The Prodigy is the story of Hans Giebenrath, a talented boy sent to a seminary in Maulbronn. His education is focused solely on increasing his knowledge, neglecting personal development. His close friendship with Hermann Heilner, a more liberal fellow student, is a source of comfort for Hans. Heilner is expelled from the seminary, and Giebenrath is sent home after his academic performance declines as symptoms of mental illness develop.

About Hermann Hesse

Poet and novelist Hermann Hesse (1877–1962) was born in Germany and later became a citizen of Switzerland. As a Western man profoundly affected by the mysticism of Eastern thought, he wrote many novels, stories, and essays that bear a vital spiritual force that has captured the imagination and loyalty of many generations of readers. Among his many works are The Glass Bead Game, Steppenwolf, Siddhartha, and Narcissus and Goldmund. In 1946, Hesse was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Thom on July 10, 2011

If you're an educator, you need to read this book. It's unfortunate that today's education crushes the individual spirit and is more about bubbling scantrons. It's all about money by the testing companies, no wonder most americans are clueless about our nation's history. Years of watching reality te......more

Goodreads review by Moss on April 22, 2020

Well that was fucking depressing......more

Goodreads review by Ernst on March 08, 2026

Hatte manchmal fast märchenhafte Töne und habe es deshalb nicht ungern gelesen. Sprachlich eher einfach. Coming of Age Geschichten hab ich zwar schon kreativere gelesen, aber als Novelle, die mehr als 100 Jahre alt ist, passt es gut in seine Zeit. Vielleicht schreibe ich noch ausführlicher darüber.......more

Goodreads review by SJ on November 29, 2009

This story showcases Hesse’s brilliant prose mixed with his thoughts on life, aging, and love. In a story centered around a bright, gifted, yet timid boy Hesse shows both sides of the spectrum, celebrating the pain and sorrow along with the joys and surprises of life. The boy’s tale is equally beaut......more

Goodreads review by Andy on July 23, 2008

Underrated brilliance from Hesse about an insanely hard-working student who finally cracks like an egg and has to slow down and appreciate the world around him, even if it kills him. This kind of tale gets pretty trite very easily, but Hesse's Germanic Zen outlook defines existence in a marvelous an......more