Though set in a period and location far removed from 1922 Germany, the novel is permeated with Hermann Hesse's sensibility, combining different philosophies-Eastern faiths, Jungian archetypes, Western individualism-into a unique picture of life as expressed through one man's search for meaning.
It tells the story of Siddhartha Gautama, a wealthy Indian Brahmin who abandons a life of luxury and comfort in search of spiritual satisfaction and insight. Siddhartha meets wandering ascetics, Buddhist monks, and prosperous merchants on his voyage, as well as a courtesan named Kamala and a humble ferryman who has reached enlightenment. Siddhartha finds actual understanding while travelling among these people and experiencing life's crucial passages-love, work, friendship, and fatherhood.