黑塞创作生涯长达70年，作品涵盖面甚广，除了《在轮下》、《荒原狼》、《纳尔齐斯与歌尔德蒙》、《玻璃球游戏》等长篇小说外，也从未中断过中短篇小说的创作。黑塞擅长以象征的艺术手法，从精神、心理方面，折射外界对人的心灵所造成的深刻刺痛，从而使作品的内在意义得以凝聚和升华。本书采撷的26则中短篇小说均是黑塞此类作品中的精品，它们体现了作者早中晚不同创作时期的特点和风格，对我们全面了解黑塞以及他的创作思想和艺术有很大的帮助和启发。(Hesse has written for over 70 years with his works covering a wide range, in addition to Beneath the Wheel, Steppenwolf, Narziss and Goldmund and Glass Bead Game, he also insisted in writing short stories. Hesse specialized in the art of symbolism to refract the deep tingling of the outside world to the human heart from the spiritual and psychological aspects, so that the inner meaning of the work has been coagulated and sublimated. The collection of 26 short stories in this book are the boutique works of Hesse and they reflected the author's different characteristics and style at the various creation stages and assisted as well as inspired the readers to have a comprehensive understanding to Hesse and his creative thinking and art.)