The one genre that German fiction can boast as its very own is the Bildungsroman, the novel of the education, inner development, and maturing of a young man. Because of its very nature, this kind of novel had only a limited influence on the shorter forms of fiction. Still, there are stories, fairly long as a rule, which follow that tradition with the happiest results. Hermann Hesse’s “Youth, Beautiful Youth” is one. When the story opens, the young man knows little about himself despite all the pictures of life he has gathered on travels and winnowed from books. When the beautiful summer days are over, experience has taught him the difference between pleasant self-deceit and genuine feeling; with as poignant a farewell to youth as you are likely to encounter, he sets out on his road to manhood:

Girls with whom one could chum around and talk about life and literature were not often met with in my sphere of life in those days. Up to now I had regarded my sister’s girlfriends either as objects to fall in love with or as creatures of no importance at all. To associate with a young lady without constraint , and to be able to chat with her about all sorts of things as if she were one of my own friends, was something new and delightful to me. In spite of being on equal terms with her, I sensed in her voice, language, and way of thinking the feminine tone, and I found this warm and sweet.

…At times I was amazed at how little special consideration Anna seemed to require. In conversation I could even be almost rude without seeing any sign that she was offended. How different it was with Helene Kurz, by contrast! Toward her, even in the most animated talk, I would not have dared to use anything but the most careful and respectful phrases.

Hermann Hesse. “Youth, Beautiful Youth.” German Stories and Tales. Ed. Robert Pick. New York: Pocket Books, 1955. 25.