Heinrich Heine stands as one of the 19th century's most significant German poets, celebrated initially for his lyric poetry that composers set to music. His later verse and prose are marked by sharp satirical wit and profound irony, often stemming from his radical political views which led to censorship. Beyond his poetry, Heine was a keen journalist, essayist, and literary critic. His enduring legacy lies in his masterful fusion of lyrical beauty, biting social commentary, and fearless expression.
Heine was a restless and homeless poet, a Jew among Germans, a German in Paris, a rebel among the bourgeoisie and always, as his famous doppelganger poems show, a man divided against himself. This selection, with the German originals accompanied by English prose translations, provides an introduction to Heine.
Selected Verse With an Introduction and Prose Translation by Peter Branscombe
Neue Gedichte-Zeitgedichte
Renowned for his early lyric poetry, Heine's work gained popularity through musical adaptations by composers like Schumann and Schubert. His later writings showcase a sharp satirical wit and irony, reflecting his radical political views that often led to censorship in Germany, enhancing his notoriety. As a key figure in the Young Germany movement, Heine spent the latter part of his life in Paris, where he continued to influence literature and critique societal norms. His legacy endures through his poignant and evocative poetry.
This chapbook presents not only a variety of moods and colours in Heine's poems about the North Sea but also a loose narrative which takes us from the shore, to scenes aboard ship, and the return to harbour, ending with a pastoral scene in which the sea has been truly left behind.
