Heinrich Heine

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Heinrich Heine
Born	Harry Heine (1797-12-13)13 December 1797 Düsseldorf, Duchy of Berg, Holy Roman Empire
Died	17 February 1856(1856-02-17) (aged 58) Paris, Second French Empire
Occupation	Poet, essayist, journalist, literary critic
Nationality	German
Alma mater	Bonn, Berlin, Göttingen
Literary movement	Romanticism
Notable works	Buch der Lieder Reisebilder Germany. A Winter's Tale Atta Troll Romanzero
Spouse	Mathilde Heine ​ (m. 1841)​
Relatives	Salomon Heine (uncle) Gustav Heine (brother) Karl Marx (3rd cousin)
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Christian Johann Heinrich Heine (/ˈhaɪnə/; German: [ˈhaɪnʁɪç ˈhaɪnə] ^ⓘ; born Harry Heine; 13 December 1797 – 17 February 1856) was an outstanding poet, writer, and literary critic of 19th-century German Romanticism. He is best known outside Germany for his early lyric poetry, which was set to music in the form of Lieder (art songs) by composers such as Robert Schumann and Franz Schubert.

Heine's later verse and prose are distinguished by their satirical wit and irony. He is considered a member of the Young Germany movement. His radical political views led to many of his works being banned by German authorities—which, however, only added to his fame.^[1] He spent the last 25 years of his life as an expatriate in Paris.

Heine's early works, such as Letters from Berlin (1826) and The Winter's Tale of Germany (1828), gained widespread attention for their poetic expression, profound exploration of love, and satirical commentary on social phenomena. As a member of the Young Germany movement, Heine's political stance became increasingly radical. His radical views, especially his calls for political freedom and democratic reforms, led to many of his works being banned in Germany, further enhancing his reputation internationally.

In 1831, due to political persecution by German authorities, Heine moved to Paris, marking the end of most of his German life. Although he spent his last 25 years in exile, his influence on German society, politics, and culture remained profound. Heine's poetry not only changed the landscape of German literature but also inspired many subsequent literary and political movements.

Heine's works are renowned for their satirical wit, political critique, and profound social insights, making him an important figure in Romantic literature and a symbol of 19th-century European political thought. Despite his declining health in exile, Heine continued to write actively until his death.