Story of Xi Mu, the Madman

Author: Gotthold Ephraim Lessing
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: This is an extremely rare monument of literature and life, enduring nearly three centuries of vicissitudes while remaining vibrant and destined to stand even more firmly in the years to come. It is a narrative work of irresistible charm, rich, wild, humorous, and utterly captivating, imbued with the vitality of life yet profoundly moving, as if we experience misfortune and death firsthand. Its conclusion is a complete remorse and weariness with a bloody, predatory, and debauched world. It is immortal within the vast, sinful, and tragic tapestry of the world. —Thomas Mann
This is the story of a small man set during the Thirty Years' War in Germany. The protagonist, Simon, is an orphan raised by a farmer from a very innocent childhood. During the war, he flees into the forest and encounters a hermit. The hermit is astonished by his ignorance and teaches him various skills. After the hermit's death, Simon leaves the forest and enters human society. He first becomes a page and then a jester, later serving in the army. With his intelligence and adaptability, he achieves numerous military successes, becoming a skilled and brave hunter, enjoying a moment of glory. Later, he is deceived to Paris and falls into the "Castle of Love." On his escape from Paris back to his homeland, he contracts smallpox, losing his beauty and wealth, and eventually becomes a fake drug peddler, a fraud, a soldier of fortune, and a robber. After experiencing the ups and downs of "today paradise, tomorrow hell," Simon finally gives up all hope, grows weary of life, and decides to return to the forest to live a hermit's life again.