"Siddhartha: A Poem of India" by Hermann Hesse is a novel published in 1922 that follows a young Brahmin's spiritual quest for self-discovery in ancient India during the time of Gautama Buddha. Rejecting traditional teachings, Siddhartha seeks his own path to enlightenment through asceticism, wealth, love, and loss. His journey leads him to a river where, guided by a humble ferryman, he learns that wisdom comes not from doctrine but from embracing the totality of life's experiences and recognizing the timeless unity of all existence.