Hermann Hesse was a German-born Swiss poet, novelist, and painter. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1946 for his body of work, which includes novels such as Siddhartha and Steppenwolf. He is also known for his poetry collections, including The Glass Bead Game. Hesse's works explore an individual's search for spirituality outside of traditional religion. His works have been translated into more than fifty languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide.