I.

Introduction

Heinrich Heine (1797-1856), German poet, who gained lasting fame for his lyrical poems and ballads, which are noted for the variety of moods and emotions they express. In his own time, he was also well known for his liberal political opinions and for his satirical attacks on German nationalism. His writings and controversial activities brought him into disfavor in Germany but made him famous throughout Europe.

Born in Düsseldorf, Heine attended schools there until 1815. There is some evidence that then, while staying in Hamburg with his uncle Salomon Heine, a banker, Heine fell in love with his cousin Amalie but she did not return his love. This early experience may have been the source for the themes of yearning, disappointment, and romantic irony in Heine's later poetry. In 1819 Heine began to study law in Germany, first in Bonn and then in Göttingen. In 1821 he moved to Berlin, Germany where he studied and came into contact with German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, who profoundly influenced Heine's philosophic outlook.