Emmy Hennings was an artist who radiated a remarkable magic, even as her life was plagued by hardship, displacement, and imprisonment. Despite facing material and psychological struggles, addiction, and illness, the power of her poetry and her charismatic stage presence ultimately outshone her privations. Admired by influential figures of her time for her artistic genius and alluring persona, Hennings's work stands as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of creative expression. Her legacy is one of profound strength, where artistic brilliance triumphed over adversity.
When Branded: A Diary was published in Berlin in 1920, Emmy Hennings was called the most important woman writer of her day. Her autobiographical novel offers a sharp critique of patriarchy and the social injustices of the last decade of the German Empire, infused with a mysticism that celebrates sexual love as a spiritual gift.