Introduction Summary

The Glass Bead Game by Hermann Hesse was first published in Switzerland in 1943 and it was to be his last major work. It is Hesse's story of the life of Magister Ludi Joseph Knecht and is written in novel form. The novel is basically a parody of biography as Hesse tells the story of Joseph Knecht. Knecht is a member of the intellectual elite and has been obsessed with mastering the Glass Bead Game since he was a child. He finally becomes a Master of the Game, or Magister Ludi, when he is an adult. Hesse tells his story with the parody of humor in it.

The purpose of the Introduction is to provide some details about Joseph Knecht, the narrator and main character, even though it may be counter to our intellectual life to do so. It runs contrary to custom to...