Hermann Hesse (1877 - 1962), whose birth name is Hermann Karl Hesse, was a German-Swiss poet, novelist, and artist. His favorite topic of writing explored an individual's search for authenticity, spirituality, and self-knowledge. This can be seen in his most famous works Siddhartha, Steppenwolf, and The Glass Bead Game. At the age of 69 Hesse received the Nobel Prize for Literature.