Heinrich Heine

Heinrich Heine

December 13, 1797 – February 17, 1856
Countries: Germany
Place of Birth: Düsseldorf, Duchy of Berg, Holy Roman Empire
Place of Death: Paris, France

Christian Johann Heinrich Heine (ˈhaɪnʁɪç ˈhaɪnə; 13 December 1797 – 17 February 1856) was a German poet, journalist, essayist, and literary critic. He is best known outside of 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 part 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. Heine spent the last 25 years of his life as an expatriate in Paris.