Heinrich Heine
A profound exploration of the German poet, writer, and critic whose lyrical genius and sharp wit defined an era.
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The Lyrical Rebel
A Poetic Force
Christian Johann Heinrich Heine (born Harry Heine, 1797–1856) was a German poet, writer, and literary critic. He is celebrated globally for his early lyric poetry, famously set to music by composers like Robert Schumann and Franz Schubert. Heine is also remembered for his prescient quote, "Where books burn, so do people."
Wit and Irony
His later works are distinguished by their satirical wit and irony, marking him as a significant figure of the "Young Germany" movement. Heine's radical political views led to his works being banned by German authorities, paradoxically enhancing his fame.
Exile and Influence
Spending the last 25 years of his life as an expatriate in Paris, Heine became a symbol of liberal and cosmopolitan values. His writings and persona influenced the mainstream press and became an avatar for these ideals, cementing his status as a cultural commentator.
Formative Years
Düsseldorf Beginnings
Born in Düsseldorf in 1797 to a Jewish family, Heine's early life was shaped by the political upheavals of the Napoleonic era. His father, Samson Heine, was a textile merchant, and his mother, Betty, came from a family of physicians. The family's fortunes fluctuated, influenced by the changing political landscape of the Rhineland.
Academic Pursuits
Initially apprenticed in banking in Hamburg, Heine displayed little aptitude for commerce. His uncle, a successful banker, supported his decision to study law. Heine attended universities in Bonn, Göttingen, and Berlin, where he was exposed to influential thinkers like August Wilhelm Schlegel and G.W.F. Hegel, and began to develop his poetic voice.
Conversion and Identity
In 1825, Heine converted to Lutheran Christianity, a decision he described as a "ticket of admission into European culture," aiming to overcome professional barriers against Jews in Prussia. However, this conversion did not significantly benefit his career and he later reflected, "I make no secret of my Judaism, to which I have not returned, because I never left it."
Literary Milestones
Early Successes
Heine's literary career began to flourish with the publication of his poetry collections. His 1827 work, Buch der Lieder ("Book of Songs"), became immensely popular, particularly after composers began setting his poems to music, showcasing his profound lyrical talent.
Style and Satire
Heine evolved beyond pure Romanticism, incorporating irony, sarcasm, and biting satire. He critically engaged with contemporary literary trends, often mocking sentimentalism and romantic tropes. His prose works, like Die Harzreise, exemplified a new style of travel writing.
The Feuilletonist
Heine is credited with popularizing the feuilleton, a journalistic style often featuring literary criticism, social commentary, and personal reflection. This form, originating in France, allowed for subtle political critique and became a significant medium for Heine's influential voice.
Life in Paris
Seeking Freedom
In 1831, Heine relocated to Paris, seeking refuge from German censorship and embracing the spirit of the July Revolution. Paris offered him a vibrant cultural milieu and a platform to engage with European intellectual currents, including Saint-Simonianism, though his enthusiasm for utopian ideologies eventually waned.
Parisian Celebrity
Heine quickly became a celebrated figure in Paris, interacting with prominent artists and intellectuals. He worked as a foreign correspondent, contributing articles on French affairs that were later collected in Französische Zustände ("Conditions in France"). He saw himself as a mediator between German and French cultures.
Personal Life
Heine's long-term relationship was with Mathilde Mirat, a shopgirl whom he married in 1841. Despite her lack of interest in his intellectual pursuits, she remained a constant companion. His later years were marked by declining health, confining him to his "mattress-grave" from 1848 until his death in 1856.
Political Convictions
Liberalism and Critique
Heine was a staunch liberal, critical of German despotism, nationalism, and the conservative order. He championed revolutionary ideals of liberty and equality, often expressing his views through sharp satire and political commentary in his writings and journalism.
Prophetic Warnings
His writings contained prescient warnings about the potential for resurgent Germanic barbarism, famously stating, "Where they burn books, there they will ultimately burn people too." This sentiment gained chilling relevance during the Nazi era.
Relationship with Marx
Heine maintained a complex relationship with Karl Marx, a distant relative and fellow revolutionary. While they shared a critical view of the bourgeoisie, their approaches to revolution differed, with Heine leaning towards cultural and sensual emancipation, and Marx towards scientific socialism. Heine published some of his political poems in Marx's journal Vorwärts.
Enduring Legacy
Musical Inspiration
Heine's poetry has been a profound source of inspiration for composers, with hundreds of his poems set to music. Figures like Robert Schumann (Dichterliebe), Franz Schubert, Franz Liszt, and Johannes Brahms created iconic musical settings, cementing Heine's place in the art song tradition.
Memorials and Recognition
Heine is honored through numerous monuments, streets, and institutions worldwide. Notably, the Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf bears his name. His quote about burning books is inscribed at memorial sites related to book burnings, such as Bebelplatz in Berlin and the Holocaust museums.
Nazi Persecution
During the Nazi regime, Heine's works were banned and his monuments removed due to his Jewish heritage and liberal, anti-fascist views. His writings were deemed "degenerate," and efforts were made to erase his influence, highlighting the enduring power and threat perceived in his words.
Key Works
Poetry Collections
Heine's poetry is renowned for its lyrical beauty, emotional depth, and sharp wit. His collections often explored themes of love, nature, politics, and exile.
- Gedichte (Poems, 1821)
- Reisebilder (Travel Pictures, 1826–1831)
- Buch der Lieder (Book of Songs, 1827)
- Neue Gedichte (New Poems, 1844)
- Romanzero (1851)
Prose and Criticism
Beyond poetry, Heine was a prolific prose writer, essayist, and literary critic. His critical works often engaged with philosophy, politics, and the cultural landscape of his time.
- Die Harzreise (The Harz Journey, 1826)
- Zur Geschichte der Religion und Philosophie in Deutschland (On the History of Religion and Philosophy in Germany, 1835)
- Die romantische Schule (The Romantic School, 1835)
- Französische Zustände (Conditions in France, 1833)
- Der Rabbi von Bacherach (The Rabbi of Bacharach, unfinished)
Dramatic Works
Heine also penned several plays, though they met with less theatrical success than his poetry and prose. These works often explored dramatic themes and character studies.
- Almansor (play, 1821–1822)
- William Ratcliff (play, 1822)
Heine in Music
Lieder Masters
Heine's lyrical poetry found its most profound musical expression in the German Lied (art song). Composers like Robert Schumann, Franz Schubert, and Franz Liszt masterfully set his verses, capturing their emotional nuance and melodic potential.
- Robert Schumann: Dichterliebe, Liederkreis
- Franz Schubert: Numerous songs, including settings from Schwanengesang.
- Franz Liszt: Various songs and settings of Heine's poems.
Operas and Beyond
His dramatic works also inspired operatic compositions, and his influence extended to later 20th-century musicians exploring jazz and contemporary classical forms.
- Operas: Based on William Ratcliff by César Cui and Pietro Mascagni.
- Modern Interpretations: Works by composers like Hans Werner Henze and Morton Feldman.
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References
References
- Willi Goetschel, "Heine's Aesthetics of Dissonance," The Germanic Review 90 (2015), p. 304 ff. See also Willi Goetschel, "German Studies in a Post-National Age," Rutgers German Studies Occasional Papers 9 (2009), pp. 13-17.
- âIntroduction by Michael Jenningsâ to Walter Benjaminâs One Way St. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2016 pp. i-xxx
- Walter Benjamin. âKarl Krausâ(1931) collected in One Way Street & Other Writings Verso Books, p. 260
- Walter Benjamin. âKarl Krausâ(1931) collected in One Way Street & Other Writings Verso Books, p. 275
- Walter Benjamin. âKarl Krausâ(1931) collected in One Way Street & Other Writings Verso Books, p. 259
- Nietzsche. Ecce Homo. page 40
- The Rabbi of Bacharach on Wikisource.
- Perry, Beate Julia, Schumann's Dichterliebe and Early Romantic Poetics: Fragmentation of Desire, Cambridge University Press; 2002, p. 87-88
- Heine's draft for Préface in the French edition of Lutezia (1855), DHA, Vol. 13/1, p. 294.
- Walker, Alan, Franz Liszt: The virtuoso years, 1811â1847, Cornell University Press; Rev. ed edition, 1997, p. 164
- Walker, Alan, Franz Liszt: The virtuoso years, 1811â1847, Cornell University Press; Rev. ed edition, 1997, p. 164
- Friedrich Nietzsche, A Nietzsche Reader, Translated by R. J. Hollingdale, Penguin 1977, p. 147
- North American Heine Society, University of Connecticut
- Buffalo News. Performers revel in premiere of Tyberg songs
- Richard S. Levy, Heine Monument Controversy, in Antisemitism: A Historical Encyclopedia of Prejudice and Persecution, ABC-CLIO, 2005, p.295
- Rolf Hosfeld, Heinrich Heine: Die Erfindung des europäischen Intellektuellen â Biographie (Munich 2014), p. 153
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