Heinrich Heine
Wed –Sun
German poet, writer and literary critic (1797–1856)
253 books in the database
© Moritz Daniel Oppenheim / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
About the author
Heinrich Heine was a 19th-century German poet, journalist, and literary critic. He wrote in German and is especially known for his early lyric poetry, along with work that moves between literature and criticism. In the Hebrew source he is also described as a Jewish-German convert, but for a quick first impression, the main point is that he is a major German-language writer of his time.
His writing spans poetry, ballads, lyric verse, diary writing, and travel literature. From the titles listed here, you can see two sides of his work: more reflective or politically shaded pieces such as Germany. A Winter's Tale and Die Harzreise, and shorter, widely known lyrics such as The Lorelei, The Pine Tree, Die Botschaft, Two Grenadiers, and On Wings of Song. His style, as reflected in these genres and works, mixes musicality, emotional directness, and sharp observation.
A good place to start is Book of Songs if you want his lyric poetry at its core. If you prefer something more narrative and travel-based, Die Harzreise is a strong entry point. For a shorter first taste, The Lorelei or On Wings of Song works well. Germany. A Winter's Tale is better for readers who want a more pointed, literary, and critical side of Heine.