Klein and Wagner by Hermann Hesse. Short summary

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Klein flees the country, stealing a large sum of money and leaving his family behind. He is haunted by images of the composer Wagner and his namesake, who has become a murderer. Unable to bear it, Klein commits suicide.

1 minute

Friedrich Klein flees the country, stealing a large sum of money and leaving his family behind. He takes a train to Italy.

The hero experiences a severe inner crisis and contemplates suicide. In his feverish mind there are images of the composer Wagner and his namesake, a brutal murderer.

In Italy he meets the dancer Teresina. An affair begins between them. At first Klein is seized by passion. But gradually heavy thoughts and contempt for himself return to him. He wants to kill himself again.

Only a week after his escape, Klein throws himself from a boat into the sea.