About this Item
First UK edition, translated from the German by Mervyn Savill. The book was originally published as "Das Glasperlenspiel" in Switzerland in 1943, and in this English translation as "Magister Ludi" by Aldus Publications in 1949. The text includes a seven-page Foreword by Eric Peters, dated July, 1947 - followed by the 30-page Introduction by the author which forms the start of the book.
***PLEASE NOTE - This copy is from the library of Hungarian-born author, journalist, screenwriter, and psychoanalyst Paul Tabori, with his attractive bookplate. IN ADDITION there is a typed letter pasted onto the front free endpaper which has been written by HERMANN HESSE and is signed in ink by the author.
The letter reads: Ich war nie in Ungarn, aber ich habe einige ungarische Freunde, lauter Musiker. An sie denke ich, wenn ich von Ungarn sprechen höre. Und wenn ich an sie denke, habe ich stets dieselbe frohe, schöne Vorstellung von begabten, hervorragend musikalischen, lebenstüchtigen, sprachgewandten Menschen, Menschen voll Aufrichtigkeit und Wärme, die ich herzlich liebe.
and translates as follows: I've never been to Hungary, but I have several Hungarian friends, all musicians. I think of them whenever I hear people talking about Hungary. And when I think of them, I always have the same happy, beautiful image of gifted, superbly musical, resourceful, articulate people, people full of sincerity and warmth, whom I love dearly.
***A very good copy in a variant binding of plain black cloth-covered boards without any visible titles (see accompanying photos for a comparison with a standard binding). The boards show some light marks and rubbing commensurate with age and handling over the past 80+ years but are cleaner than usually found with this title - just some small marks to the back board and light creasing to the bottom edge of the front board (please see scans). Slight creasing to the head and tail of the spine. Corners quite sharp. Top edge of page block stained red by the publisher - remains unfaded. Some small spots to the fore-edge of the page block, which has a light abrasion, but which is otherwise clean. No reading lean to the binding. Spine tight. Internally the book is also very good, with the aforementioned bookplate on the front pastedown, and author-signed typed letter pasted onto the front free endpaper. ***The letter is written in German and dated 1. Dezember 1915, Bern (Switzerland). The interior pages are lovely and clean with none of the usual foxing - just light foxing spots to a few fore-edge margins and slight creasing to the fore-edge where the abrasion is. One lower corner tip folded. No other obvious creases and no tears. No dustwrapper with this copy. ***218mm x 140mm. 502 pages.
***'Hermann Karl Hesse (2 Jul 1877 - 9 Aug 1962) was a German-born Swiss poet, novelist, and painter. His best-known works include Demian, Steppenwolf, Siddhartha, and The Glass Bead Game, each of which explores an individual's search for authenticity, self-knowledge and spirituality. In 1946, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature.' (Wiki) ***'The first English translation of Hermann Hesse's landmark novel "Magister Ludi" later translated as "The Glass Bead Game". The great German émigré-writer was awarded the Nobel Prize in the year of publication. A tentative sketch of the life of Magister Ludi Joseph Knecht together with Knecht's posthumous writings edited by Hermann Hesse - considered to be the author's magnum opus.
***A true first printing of the first UK edition, and first edition in English. This edition of the author's Utopian masterpiece; one of the outstanding works of 20th century European literature is really uncommon - especially in such nice, collectable condition. ***The signed letter, and association with the Hungarian nation and the book's original owner Paul Tabori, makes this a fabulous and rare copy for the collector.***.
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