For more than forty years, from 1919 until his death in 1962, Hermann Hesse lived in Montagnola in Ticino - after fleeing from Bern and his second marriage in Casa Camuzzi, and from 1931 with his third wife Ninon in Casa Rossa on the Collina d'Oro, the Golden Hill. Carlo Zanda presents the life and work, world and everyday life of Hermann Hesse during this time through portraits, documents, and photographs. In dozens of interviews and with the help of the prominent figures of the Collina d'Oro, he has gathered countless stories, preserving them from oblivion: the innkeeper, the pastor, the neighbor, Hugo Ball and the gardener, Bruno Walter and the housekeeper, Emmy Hennigs and the mayor. In 64 texts, a remarkably vivid picture of Hermann Hesse emerges, richly illustrated with images from the photo albums of his conversation partners, most of which have never been published before.