Gertrude

Herman Hesse's investigation into the incongruous aspects of human existence continues with Gertrude. In this fictional biography the eminent composer Kuhn describes his complicated friendships with two artists: the mild self-assured Gertrude Imthor and his brooding self-destructive buddy Heinrich Muoth an opera singer. When they initially meet Gertrude is drawn to Kuhn but when Kuhn auditions them for the leads in his new opera Gertrude falls in love with Heinrich. Gertrude and Heinrich who are utterly mismatched have a catastrophic marriage that destroys them both. The most significant achievement of Kuhn's artistic career his opera is nevertheless inspired by this tragic incident.