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Leonora: 1796
In literary terms Burger's ghostly tale broke convention and created a context for Lyrical Ballads and The Ancient Mariner. In 1796 it appeared in no fewer than five versions, each noticeably different from the others. The main distinction of this edition is the contribution of William Blake, whose haunting, hallucinatory frontispiece belongs to the period of his greatest creativity. Stanley's Leonora is marked out in other ways, by the inclusion of the German text, and by the happy ending he good triumphs, Leonora awakes, William returns. It is a measure of the ballad's power and its impact upon the poetry-reading public that he felt the need to Christianize it.
12 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1774
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About the author
Gottfried August Bürger
432 books10 followersGottfried August Bürger was a German poet from Molmerswende (now a part of Mansfeld), Principality of Halberstadt, where his father was the Lutheran pastor. Bürger's talent for popular poetry was very considerable, and his ballads are among the finest in the German language, of which Lenore, Das Lied vom braven Manne, Die Kuh, Der Kaiser und der Abt and Der wilde Jäger are famous. Few of his purely lyrical poems have earned a lasting reputation, though mention may be made of Das Blumchen Wunderhold, Lied an den lieben Mend, and a few love songs.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 4, 2020
Published in 1774, Leonore is a supremely eerie, melancholic, gloomy and woeful Gothic ballad, based on a Low-German Volkslied, which was highly influential on vampire literature and on the development of Romantic literature throughout Europe, standing as a genuine inspirational Gothic tale of beauty and terror.
The verse "Denn die Todten reiten schnell" is particularly famous for being cited by Bram Stoker in the first chapter of Dracula.
Charles Dickens alludes to "The dead travel fast" in A Christmas Carol, during an exchange between Scrooge and the ghost of Marley: "You travel fast?" said Scrooge. "On the wings of the wind," replied the Ghost.
Denn die Todten reiten schnell means that not only are "the dead" breaking the boundary of the eternal separation between the Living and the Dead, but breaking that boundary by the regulated physical laws of motion and metaphysical understanding of Identity; these are important facets of understanding what a "Vampire" is: those who revolt against the natural order of existence.
It is to be noted that in Leonore, the character returning from the grave is not in itself a vampire, William Taylor compares Leonore to an obscure English ballad called 'The Suffolk Miracle', as both individuals are in fact .
Have read the original and both the Rosetti and Taylor translations. Taylor is a tad stiff, I do believe the Rosetti translation is most faithful in delivering the primordial ambiance.
The verse "Denn die Todten reiten schnell" is particularly famous for being cited by Bram Stoker in the first chapter of Dracula.
Charles Dickens alludes to "The dead travel fast" in A Christmas Carol, during an exchange between Scrooge and the ghost of Marley: "You travel fast?" said Scrooge. "On the wings of the wind," replied the Ghost.
Denn die Todten reiten schnell means that not only are "the dead" breaking the boundary of the eternal separation between the Living and the Dead, but breaking that boundary by the regulated physical laws of motion and metaphysical understanding of Identity; these are important facets of understanding what a "Vampire" is: those who revolt against the natural order of existence.
It is to be noted that in Leonore, the character returning from the grave is not in itself a vampire, William Taylor compares Leonore to an obscure English ballad called 'The Suffolk Miracle', as both individuals are in fact .
Have read the original and both the Rosetti and Taylor translations. Taylor is a tad stiff, I do believe the Rosetti translation is most faithful in delivering the primordial ambiance.
December 31, 2025
English review below⬇️
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German review:
Wirklich wunderschön zu lesen! 🖤🖤🖤Die rhythmische Form und die Stillmittel (Reim, Alliteration, Anapher, Wiederholungen) tragen besonders zur Spannung und eindringlich-emotionalen Wirkung bei. Perfekt für Ghost Story-Fans mit dem Motiv des Geisterritts um (Mitter)nacht! ☠️👻🐎🌕
(P.S.: Ich denke das Hochzeitsbett mit seinen paar 'Brettern und Brettchen' hätte auch nicht standgehalten🤣 Wäre wahrscheinlich übel geendet, wenn es nicht davor schon übel gewesen wäre.)
Gesamt: 5,0🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
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English review:
Really wonderful to read! 🖤🖤🖤The rhythmic form and stylistic devices (rhyme, alliteration, anaphora, repetition) contribute greatly to the suspense and haunting emotional effect. Perfect for ghost story fans with the motif of the ghostly ride at (mid)night! ☠️ 👻🐎🌕
(P.S.: I don't think the wedding bed with its few “boards and small boards” would have held up either🤣 It would probably have ended badly, if it hadn't already been bad before.)
Overall: 5.0🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
----------
German review:
Wirklich wunderschön zu lesen! 🖤🖤🖤Die rhythmische Form und die Stillmittel (Reim, Alliteration, Anapher, Wiederholungen) tragen besonders zur Spannung und eindringlich-emotionalen Wirkung bei. Perfekt für Ghost Story-Fans mit dem Motiv des Geisterritts um (Mitter)nacht! ☠️👻🐎🌕
(P.S.: Ich denke das Hochzeitsbett mit seinen paar 'Brettern und Brettchen' hätte auch nicht standgehalten🤣 Wäre wahrscheinlich übel geendet, wenn es nicht davor schon übel gewesen wäre.)
Gesamt: 5,0🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
----------
English review:
Really wonderful to read! 🖤🖤🖤The rhythmic form and stylistic devices (rhyme, alliteration, anaphora, repetition) contribute greatly to the suspense and haunting emotional effect. Perfect for ghost story fans with the motif of the ghostly ride at (mid)night! ☠️ 👻🐎🌕
(P.S.: I don't think the wedding bed with its few “boards and small boards” would have held up either🤣 It would probably have ended badly, if it hadn't already been bad before.)
Overall: 5.0🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
October 19, 2013
Lenore complains to God how he has treated her unfairly, because her fiancé William still hasn't returned from the war. Things start to get eerie when he finally comes back.
The publication of the ballad dates to a time when philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder suggested, that in order to create a German literary tradition they should collect folk songs from the lower classes. Wikipedia has a good overview of the background, so I won't go into more detail on that. I think it's interesting that this has variations in other cultures. In Finland for example the elements have been changed into a snowy landscape and a sled, but the basic idea is the same. Like I mentioned in my review of the collection of Finnish ghost stories, this seems very familiar to me. I'm not sure if it's because I've read a similar story when I was a child, or if there are some universal aspects to it, but it's entertaining nevertheless.
Since I don't know enough German, I can't say anything about Rossetti's translation, but apparently it's considered the most faithful one. The ending was wonderfully creepy, but it also reminded me a bit of Hugo Simberg, especially his painting The Garden of Death . It's not a big surprise that Lenore was a big inspiration for Romantic writers. It's a short ballad, but has a lot of great material whose echoes can be seen and felt in all Romantic and at some level in Gothic and horror literature. It has been said to have influenced the works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Matthew Gregory Lewis, John Keats and William Wordsworth. Bram Stoker famously cited the line "The dead travel fast" in Dracula. I would actually say that this is a must read for all horror and Romantic aficianados, even if only to see where it all started.
The publication of the ballad dates to a time when philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder suggested, that in order to create a German literary tradition they should collect folk songs from the lower classes. Wikipedia has a good overview of the background, so I won't go into more detail on that. I think it's interesting that this has variations in other cultures. In Finland for example the elements have been changed into a snowy landscape and a sled, but the basic idea is the same. Like I mentioned in my review of the collection of Finnish ghost stories, this seems very familiar to me. I'm not sure if it's because I've read a similar story when I was a child, or if there are some universal aspects to it, but it's entertaining nevertheless.
Since I don't know enough German, I can't say anything about Rossetti's translation, but apparently it's considered the most faithful one. The ending was wonderfully creepy, but it also reminded me a bit of Hugo Simberg, especially his painting The Garden of Death . It's not a big surprise that Lenore was a big inspiration for Romantic writers. It's a short ballad, but has a lot of great material whose echoes can be seen and felt in all Romantic and at some level in Gothic and horror literature. It has been said to have influenced the works of Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Matthew Gregory Lewis, John Keats and William Wordsworth. Bram Stoker famously cited the line "The dead travel fast" in Dracula. I would actually say that this is a must read for all horror and Romantic aficianados, even if only to see where it all started.
November 19, 2023
I read Dante Rossetti's translation.
I did not understand everything I have to be honest. A few lines went over my head I admit.
I decided to read this poem as one of the characters had influenced a lot of vampires in literature to follow its publication in the 1700's
My favorite parts were when Lenore cried out to her mother about how God had done her no good which ultimately led to her demise in the end. I've related a lot to her sentiment of raising a fist to the sky and and cursing the old man up there during my early twenties.
I have a hard time portraying Lenore more as a sinner rather than a victim, so much so that her god would punish her for being ungrateful that he could not protect her from heartbreak. That's the reason for her death that we are given at least.
Here are a few of my favorite lines (for their meaning and musicality):
“Oh! mother, mother! gone is gone!
I reck no more how the world runs on:
What pity to me does God impart?
Woe, woe, woe! for my heavy heart!”
“Ah! where is the chamber, William dear,
And William, where is the bed?”
“Far, far from here: still, narrow,
and cool;
Plank and bottom and lid.”
“Hast room for me?”-- “For me and thee;”
The churchyard troop,— a ghostly group,—
Close round the dying girl;
Out and in they hurry and spin
Through the dance's weary whirl:
“Patience, patience, when the heart is
breaking;
With thy God there is no question-making:
Of thy body thou art quit and free:
Heaven keep thy soul eternally!”
I did not understand everything I have to be honest. A few lines went over my head I admit.
I decided to read this poem as one of the characters had influenced a lot of vampires in literature to follow its publication in the 1700's
My favorite parts were when Lenore cried out to her mother about how God had done her no good which ultimately led to her demise in the end. I've related a lot to her sentiment of raising a fist to the sky and and cursing the old man up there during my early twenties.
I have a hard time portraying Lenore more as a sinner rather than a victim, so much so that her god would punish her for being ungrateful that he could not protect her from heartbreak. That's the reason for her death that we are given at least.
Here are a few of my favorite lines (for their meaning and musicality):
“Oh! mother, mother! gone is gone!
I reck no more how the world runs on:
What pity to me does God impart?
Woe, woe, woe! for my heavy heart!”
“Ah! where is the chamber, William dear,
And William, where is the bed?”
“Far, far from here: still, narrow,
and cool;
Plank and bottom and lid.”
“Hast room for me?”-- “For me and thee;”
The churchyard troop,— a ghostly group,—
Close round the dying girl;
Out and in they hurry and spin
Through the dance's weary whirl:
“Patience, patience, when the heart is
breaking;
With thy God there is no question-making:
Of thy body thou art quit and free:
Heaven keep thy soul eternally!”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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January 2, 2022I read the translation from Dante Rossetti.
It is not exactly about a vampire (or at least, not directly mentioned) but it is quoted in Stoker's Dracula. It was interesting to see the parallel. .
Read it if you are looking for early influences
It is not exactly about a vampire (or at least, not directly mentioned) but it is quoted in Stoker's Dracula. It was interesting to see the parallel. .
Read it if you are looking for early influences
May 31, 2022
"¿Eres infiel, William, o estás muerto?
hace tanto que has marchado..."
"Corría rápidamente mirando hombre por hombre
con ojos anhelantes;
pero se sentía sola en la multitud poderosa,
como si la presionara y aplastara"
"Hija mía, que Dios te contemple
y te tranquilice, niña mía.
¡Oh, madre, madre! ¡Lo que se fue, se fue!
No comprendo cómo el mundo sigue rodando"
"Cientos de millas serán cabalgadas
hasta que pueda reposar en la cama nupcial".
"Paciencia, paciencia, cuando el corazón se está quebrando;
A tu Dios no se le hacen preguntas:
¡Fuera de tu cuerpo y liberada:
El Cielo conservará tu alma eternamente!"
hace tanto que has marchado..."
"Corría rápidamente mirando hombre por hombre
con ojos anhelantes;
pero se sentía sola en la multitud poderosa,
como si la presionara y aplastara"
"Hija mía, que Dios te contemple
y te tranquilice, niña mía.
¡Oh, madre, madre! ¡Lo que se fue, se fue!
No comprendo cómo el mundo sigue rodando"
"Cientos de millas serán cabalgadas
hasta que pueda reposar en la cama nupcial".
"Paciencia, paciencia, cuando el corazón se está quebrando;
A tu Dios no se le hacen preguntas:
¡Fuera de tu cuerpo y liberada:
El Cielo conservará tu alma eternamente!"
August 12, 2022
I really liked this ballad.
In fact, I'm here because RuNyx revealed the meaning of the name of the main character of her upcoming book "Arkana”. 😝 and I was curious to find out what she was inspired by.
In fact, I'm here because RuNyx revealed the meaning of the name of the main character of her upcoming book "Arkana”. 😝 and I was curious to find out what she was inspired by.
September 8, 2022
«¿Qué pretende mi amado? La luna brilla,
Los muertos viajan rápido a través de la noche.
¿Acaso mi amado teme a los tranquilos muertos?»
«¡Oh! déjalos solos en su lecho polvoriento!»
Esperaba un final "de horror" pero no como ese, no lo veía venir, me dejó 🐸
Los muertos viajan rápido a través de la noche.
¿Acaso mi amado teme a los tranquilos muertos?»
«¡Oh! déjalos solos en su lecho polvoriento!»
Esperaba un final "de horror" pero no como ese, no lo veía venir, me dejó 🐸
September 14, 2024
Oh wow, normalerweise werde ich keine Balladen lesen, aber ich hätte ein Kustwerk gesehen basiert auf diesen Gedicht und dachte ich muss es mal probieren! (Nicht wirklich ein Buch aber ich habe so wenig Zeit um zu lesen jetzt Uni angefangen ist )
February 11, 2019
Just wow
August 2, 2024
I read it after reading a commentary of Bram Stoker Dracula written by Elizabeth Miller.
January 8, 2025
Terrifyingly divine, Bürger needs a renaissance in the english language!
November 25, 2025
[Lenore - Gottfried August Bürger → ☆☆☆☆.25]
April 23, 2024
An influential Gothic ballad, apparently inspired by a folksong overheard by the poet. The poem is set during the Seven Years' War and is full of ghostly details and evocative sound effects.
May 3, 2025
Lo leí en inglés y en español, porque en la investigación de Ángeles García Calderón al español, mencionan que al inglés sólo se tienen 5 (tal vez 6) traducciones del original, ya que está en Alemán, y muchas veces la traducción en español proviene del inglés. Me llamó la atención que probablemente fue inspirado por Leonor de Schwarzenberg, y lo leí pues investigaba sobre los primeros arquetipos de vampiros. Es claramente del género gótico, lo que me encanta, y evoca todos los instrumentos para crear una atmósfera fantasmagórica. Sólo no sé si el original lo menciona, pero en la traducción al español el final se siente algo abrupto, como cerrar una puerta rápidamente para dar fin a una historia completa. El final donde se le reprime a Leonore por cuestionar a Dios me pareció muy acorde con la época, además que Gottfried estudió teología por lo que todo concuerda. En general, me gustó mucho, e investigar toda la historia detrás.
October 19, 2017
There are fewer works of literature that better suit the Halloween setting than Lenore/Leonora. It covers all of the elements of the supernatural and macabre that you'd expect of piece of Gothic horror and is wrapped in an aura of mysticism and religious perversion.
It's a fantastical ballad that satiates the reader's deviant lust for the weird and disturbing while also functioning as a moral parable and an examination of the darker side of life. It depicts the many facets of life's cruelty, raising questions about man's pitiful existence, and is written with a touch of irony that gives the poem a tinge of the absurd.
It's a fantastical ballad that satiates the reader's deviant lust for the weird and disturbing while also functioning as a moral parable and an examination of the darker side of life. It depicts the many facets of life's cruelty, raising questions about man's pitiful existence, and is written with a touch of irony that gives the poem a tinge of the absurd.
April 14, 2013
Must admit the last stanza made me think of Michael Jackson's Thriller video:
The churchyard troop, - a ghostly group, -
Close round the dying girl;
Out and in they hurry and spin
Through the dancer's weary whirl:
"Patience, patience, when the heart is breaking;
With thy God there is no question-making:
Of thy body thou art quit and free:
Heaven keep thy soul eternally!"
The churchyard troop, - a ghostly group, -
Close round the dying girl;
Out and in they hurry and spin
Through the dancer's weary whirl:
"Patience, patience, when the heart is breaking;
With thy God there is no question-making:
Of thy body thou art quit and free:
Heaven keep thy soul eternally!"
August 23, 2024
Un poema gótico que narra una historia que no es exactamente del género vampírico, pero que ha tenido mucha influencia en dicho género; a mí me pareció una obra muy entretenida; pero, comprendo que a muchos no les guste, porque su mensaje no ha envejecido bien.
June 8, 2016
I'm not a huge fan of older poetry, but since I didn't have a choice but to read this, I think it was pretty interesting.
November 21, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews