Under the wheel
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7

Commentary on the work What does "Under the Wheel" contain?

Criticizing the inhumane education system and oppressive older generation
Check out Hermann Hesse's autobiographical novel on its original first edition cover!

Hermann Hesse's "Beneath the Wheel," published in 1906, is a work that is frequently selected as a must-read for young people by various media outlets and libraries, in addition to being one of the "200 East-West Classics" selected by Seoul National University.
Hesse, who entered a prestigious seminary as a child but ran away because he could not bear the confinement, delicately portrayed the process of a boy with exceptional talent being dragged here and there by the uniform education and the adults' desire for fame, ultimately destroying his life and soul, sounding the alarm about the inhumane education system of German society.


The sensitive emotions of teenagers, depicted in "Beneath the Wheel," as they share friendships with friends, are excited by first love, and worry about and wander about their predetermined futures, along with the attempts of schools, teachers, and parents to suppress and ignore these emotions, will provide an opportunity to confront our own adolescence in a new way.
In particular, this book, which has restored the cover of the first edition from 1906, will provide an opportunity to feel more deeply the breath of Hesse, who sought to comfort the youth of the time who were hiding in an oppressive society.


The duty and responsibility entrusted to the teacher by the state is to control and root out the wild power and innate greed of young boys, and to instill in them in their place the ideals of decency and moderation, which are socially acceptable.
(…)
(…) Just as in order to maintain a primeval forest, one must prune branches, cut grass, and forcefully control growth, schools must also break, regulate, and subdue natural human beings.
The mission of schools is to awaken human potential and make them useful members of society, in accordance with the fundamental laws recognized by the government authorities.
Such education is honorably completed through the rigorous discipline of group life, such as in the military.
-From the text

The wheel of life is still valid at this very moment.
A work that resonates with everyone in our time

Hans, the protagonist of "Beneath the Wheel," simply studied breathlessly as he was told, without knowing what his dream was or why he had to get ahead of his friends.
The frustration and pain that Hans felt as he returned home, unable to endure the strict education, excessive competition, and pressure to achieve grades at the seminary, resonates with the emotions felt by members of our society, tired of spoon-fed education and endless competition.


"Beneath the Wheel" is a work that criticizes the education system of late 19th-century Germany that suppressed individuality, but it is also a story that anyone can relate to, such as the friendships and competition between students in the limited space of school, the conflicts between teachers and students, and the anxiety about academics.
It particularly resonates deeply with all readers who have experienced a uniform, grade-oriented education system.


He also knew very well that if he wanted to enter seminary and get ahead of his classmates, he would have to study more intensely and persistently.
And Hans definitely wanted to do better than others.
Why on earth? Even Hans himself didn't know why.
For three years now, Hans has been the subject of special interest.
The school teachers, the village pastor, his father, and even the principal encouraged and pushed him, never giving him a moment to catch his breath.
-From the text

A classic with an original first edition cover.
A great classic that moves the heart!

Great classics that touch the heart have a value that does not change with the passage of time.
Cornerstone Publishing's 'Hermann Hesse First Edition Collection' offers a special opportunity to encounter two of Hesse's representative works, which offer new emotions every time you read them, in their original first edition covers from the time of publication.
In addition to the cover, it is neatly edited to help readers focus on the work, and its small format makes it easy to open and read anywhere.

Beneath the Wheel is a novel that depicts the process by which the rigid educational system, the ignorance of the older generation, and the desire for honor drive the life of a bright boy into a terrible tragedy, and is a work that reflects Hesse's own school days.
Here, we have included a detailed commentary by Professor Kim Seon-hyeong, a domestic Hesse expert, to help you understand Hesse's world in a rich and clear way.