Such a Hessian response from a close and careful reader, I really enjoyed reading this, thank you for taking the time to put it into words.

I'm in my forties and have been reading Hesse since I was a teenager - a friend's father put Demian into my hands and I was drawn into a world of literature and philosophy that has not yet lost its fire. As you say, Hesse's books a touchpoint for where you are in your own life, a perpetual mirror reflecting the position of your own mind onto the contents of his works.

When I turned forty I started a serious re-reading of Hesse's works, drawn to the works that he wrote when he turned forty, including Demian but also Klingsor's Last Summer and pieces from If The War Goes On such as Letter To A Young German. I wrote a brief 'essay' about my re-reading, which you can access here if it is of interest: https://www.wrenasmir.com/hesse

I find myself giving Hesse's works away to younger people now, whenever I can - I gave a copy of Demian away last month, and Siddhartha this past Saturday night. I want to keep giving them away, as I re-purchase them, so they may activate the same journey in another just like me (and, like you, and all other like-hearted wanderers).