Heinrich Heine

Important poet, writer and journalist of the 19th century

Short biography

(born Harry Heine)

Born 13.12.1797 as the son of Jewish parents on Bolkerstraße 53 in Düsseldorf, rear tenement house
From 1801, attended the children’s school (a kind of preschool) on Andreasstraße
From 1804, attended elementary school and the lyceum in the Franciscan monastery on Schulstraße and Citadellstraße
Forced into exile for his writings
From 1831, in exile in Paris
Died in Paris on 17.2.1856 after eight years of illness

“Born a Jew under the name Harry Heine, he was christened Heinrich Heine as a Protestant Christian, remained a free thinker, was supposed to become a merchant, was a young entrepreneur, became a law student in Bonn, Berlin and Göttingen, received his doctorate in both canon and civil law, and struggled for a civic position as a lawyer, administrative official and university lecturer, involuntarily became a freelance writer, journalist, chronicler, polemicist, satirist, travel writer and remains one of the very great and popular, beloved and hated poets of German tongue to this day.”*

* quoted from: van Eycken, Fritz and Katinka (ed.): Das poetische Werk von Heinrich Heine – Die Gedichte – Die Erzählungen – Die Memoiren [The poetic works of Heinrich Heine – the poems – the stories – the memoirs]; Berlin 2011

Note: his correct baptismal name was Christian Johann Heinrich

Hardly any other German writer and poet has seen his works so frequently translated into other languages.

Important works

Reisebilder
Das Buch der Lieder
Deutschland, ein Wintermärchen
Atta Troll
Harzreise

One of his most important quotes

“Where they burn books, they will also ultimately burn people.”

During the period of National Socialism, his books were actually burned and his works were placed on the Index.

One of his most famous poems set to music

Ich weiß nicht was soll es bedeuten

Ich weiß nicht was soll es bedeuten
dass ich so traurig bin;
ein Märchen aus alten Zeiten,
das kommt mir nicht aus dem Sinn.

Die Luft ist kühl und es dunkelt,
und ruhig fließet der Rhein;
der Gipfel des Berges funkelt
im Abendsonnenschein.

Die schönste Jungfrau sitzet
dort oben wunderbar;
ihr goldnes Geschmeide blitzet,
sie kämmt ihr goldenes Haar.

Sie kämmt es mit goldenem Kamme
und singt ein Lied dabei;
das hat eine wundersame,
gewaltige Melodei.

Den Schiffer im kleinen Schiffe
ergreift es mit wildem Weh;
er schaut nicht die Felsenriffe,
er schaut nur hinauf in die Höh.

Ich glaube, die Wellen verschlingen
am Ende Schiffer und Kahn;
und das hat mit ihrem Singen
Die Lore-Ley getan.