Hermann Hesse

In the remote Kingdom of Castalia, the scholars of the Twenty Third century play the Glass Bead Game. The elaborately coded game is a fusion of all human knowledge – of maths, music, philosophy, science, and art. Intrigued as a school boy, Joseph Knecht becomes consumed with mastering the game as an adult. As Knecht fulfils his life-long quest he must contend with unexpected dilemmas and the longing for a life beyond the ivory tower.

Emil grows up the creature of two worlds: the safe, clean, respectable world of parents and school, and another world-a place of danger and mystery, servants’ gossip and ghost stories, the dark currents that run under the surface. As he struggles between light and darkness, only the guidance of his friend and mentor Max Denian can lead him on a journey towards self-realization, in Hesse’s fable of adolescent awakening and spiritual enlightenment.