Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse was written during a period of unrest and chaos. World War I was taking the lives of many and despite the turmoil, Hesse decided to write a novel which would revolutionize a new way of overcoming the chaotic atmosphere created by war. His serenity brought about a new way of thinking. A sense of tranquility overcomes the reader taking the reader to a place far away from the mass killing and aftermath of war; Hesse certainly puts the reader at ease taking the reader into a world set in 500BC in India.

Siddartha is constantly on the move in the book exploring and living various lifestyles. He is brought up as the son of a Bhramin, a Hindu priest, with everything a child could ask for. He brought `pride' to his mother's eyes and `happiness' to his father's heart- he was a `prince' amongst...