Designer Notes 86: Anton Strenger

In 'SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome,' Mary Beard challenges traditional historical perspectives by exploring how the Romans thought of themselves, their responses to terrorism and revolution, and their invention of a new idea of citizenship and nation. The book begins in 63 BCE with the clash between Catiline and Cicero and delves into the lives of both famous and lesser-known Romans, including women, slaves, and middle-class citizens. Beard separates fact from fiction and myth, providing a fresh and engaging view of Roman history that includes detailed illustrations and maps.

The novel centers around Joseph Knecht, who is brought to Castalia as a child and eventually becomes the Magister Ludi, the master of the Glass Bead Game. The game itself is a complex synthesis of human ideas, involving music, mathematics, philosophy, and other disciplines. The story delves into Knecht's struggles with the intellectual isolation of Castalia and his eventual decision to leave the order to engage with the outside world. The book explores themes of meaning, purpose, and the tension between intellectual pursuits and real-world experiences, reflecting Hesse's own experiences during World War II and his opposition to Nazi ideology.