Deutschland. Ein Wintermärchen

by Heinrich Heine

„Deutschland. Ein Wintermärchen“ ist das literarische Ergebnis einer Deutschlandreise Heinrich Heines im Jahre 1843. Als „Fremder“, der Deutschland bereits 1931 verlassen hatte, da die Heimat ihm als Schriftsteller und promoviertem Juristen keine beruflichen Entfaltungsmöglich-keiten bot, kehrt er für einige Wochen zurück, um seine Mutter und seinen Hamburger Verleger Campe zu treffen. Aus der Distanz betrachtet er das erstarrte Deutschland der Restaurationszeit und übt harsche Kritik an den gesellschaftlichen, politischen und kulturellen Verhältnissen. Heines „Reisebild“, wie er es selbst nannte, ist nur auf den ersten Blick eine reine Reisebeschreibung mit den Stationen Aachen, Köln, Teutoburger Wald, Minden, Hannover und Hamburg – es ist Satire, entstanden unmittelbar nach der Rückkehr ins französische Exil. Als das Werk 1844 erschien, sah Heine sich massiv den Angriffen der Presse ausgesetzt, es wurde verboten und zensiert. Noch im selben Jahr wurde es aber ungekürzt in der von Karl Marx herausgegebenen Pariser sozialrevolutionären Schrift „Vorwärts“ abgedruckt.
„Deutschland. Ein Wintermärchen“ zeigt die Sicht des Emigranten Heine, der, obwohl er am Deutschland der damaligen Zeit radikale politische Kritik übt, sich gleichwohl diesem noch verbunden fühlt und eine Umkehr herbeiwünscht: „Pflanzt die schwarzrotgoldne Fahne auf die Höhe des deutschen Gedankens, macht sie zur Standarte des freien Menschtums, und ich will mein bestes Herzblut für sie hingeben. Beruhigt euch, ich liebe das Vaterland ebenso sehr wie ihr“ (aus Heines Vorwort).
Heines satirisches Versepos bildet den Höhepunkt seines Werks und nimmt in der Dichtung des 19. Jahrhunderts eine besondere Stellung ein.Hörbuch

Genres: Poetry, Classics, German Literature, Fiction, Germany, Literature, 19th Century

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1844

About the author

Christian Johann Heinrich Heine was one of the most significant German poets of the 19th century. He was also a journalist, essayist, and literary critic. 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 is distinguished by its satirical wit and irony. His radical political views led to many of his works being banned by German authorities. Heine spent the last 25 years of his life as an expatriate in Paris.

Reviews

[Lilo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ich muss mich schämen, dass ich (abgesehen von einigen Kurzgedichten und Vierzeilern) erst jetzt, im Alter von 78 Jahren, etwas von Heinrich Heine gelesen habe. Leider war das obige Buch eine Enttäuschung. Ich hatte mir mehr versprochen.

Wenn Deutschland ein Volk von Dichtern und Denkern war, dann war Heine mit Sicherheit ein vorzüglicher Denker, aber ein Dichter? Das in Versen geschriebene Buch holpert stellenweise ganz schrecklich im Versmass, so dass mir beim Lesen gelegentlich die Haare zu Berge stiegen. Obendrein hapert es oft gewaltig mit den Reimen und erinnerte mich an den Spruch: “Reim dich, oder ich fress’ dich!”.

Dennoch bin ich froh das Buch gelesen zu haben. Heines sarkastische Kritik an Gesellschaft, Obrigkeit, Monarchie, Kirche, und Religion zeugt nicht nur von scharfem Verstand sondern auch von beachtenswertem Mut. Da kann man nur sagen: Hut ab! Der hat sich was getraut. (Es ist ihm ja auch des öfteren übel bekommen.)

Waere Heine noch am Leben, würde ich ihn als Denker und Helden verehren, ihm jedoch raten einen Kurs über Versmass und Dichtkunst zu belegen.

Ich wollte eigentlich dieser Rezession Exzerpte beifügen, aber weil ich gerade auf Reisen bin, ist mir das momentan nicht möglich. Hoffe dies später nachholen zu können.

Und jetzt gehe ich mich frisieren, denn wegen der unverzeihlichen Versmass- und Reim-Sünden stehen mir immer noch die Haare zu Berge.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This must be one of the most biting works ever written about Germany by a German.

From his exile in Paris in the winter of 1843 Heinrich Heine sets forth to visit his publisher Julius Campe (of the still existing Hoffmann & Campe Publishing House). Heine's path leads him from Aachen via Cologne, K.-Mülheim, Hagen, Paderborn, Detmold, Minden and Hannover to his final destination: Hamburg. The "Winter Tale" is his travelogue.

I don't know how many borders of large and small principalities were to be crossed on that long (in those times) journey; quite a few I suppose. Here I plotted his way on a historic map of 1844 Germany:



But this is not only a travelogue. It's true, we learn of muddy roads, hard beds, defecated streets and local specialties and that Heine seemed to be especially fond of food and drinking. Primarily, however, he uses his report to settle accounts with everyone and everything, who and that needs to be fixed. Princes and kings, emperors even, get their come-uppance, as well as the military- and church people, and of course the much behated censor, by whose "work" Heine saw himself forced to turn his back on Germany and go to Paris. The Winter Tale has also been censored and Heine was made to "glue some fig leaves" on it, as he put it, before it was allowed to be published in its current form. Still, many people are called by their names in the censored version, that today Heine would probably have to spend years in court on libel charges.

Language and meter of this epic are, in my opinion, very simple. But it's a sophisticated kind of simpleness, and it's obviously deliberate, because we know Heine can do much "better". Maybe he had hoped for a broader readership by using this style?

All in all this is a worthwhile work of a great German poet, and I had a lot of fun reading it, especially for its satirical sharpness [and because my hometown and the people around here get mentioned in a favorable kind of way].


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

[Meike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heine loved his home country, which is why he wanted it to be better: Even in 1844, he was aware that bowing to the authorities and the military, uncritically reaffirming the status quo and finding scapegoats is the opposite of patriotism, and that it only helps those in power who are in for themselves (unfortunately, some people still don’t get that, in Europe and elsewhere). And of course you have to love Heine for loving the French and believing in the possibility of friendship and peaceful cooperation while the French-Germany enmity was reaching its peak (Franco-Prussian War 1870/71, WW I and WW II).

Heine was of Jewish descent and wrote biting political satire – to escape censorship, he emigrated to Paris in 1831, where he lived for the rest of his life. In “Germany. A Winter’s Tale.”, he describes a journey from Paris to Hamburg which he undertook in the winter of 1843 to visit his mother. The genius of this verse epic is that it manages to be hilarious, analytical, and melancholic at the same time. Heine saw the revolutionary movements in France and Germany and had high hopes that they would overthrow the conservative political order (mind you, that was not the brand of conservatism we know today) and put an emphasis on the individual and his potential, instead of birth and wealth. During his journey through the German Confederation, he reflects upon the social and political situation and severely criticizes the ways in which the status quo fails the people living there.

Usually, I am a little reluctant to read 18./19. century poetry, because those texts tend to be a liiiittle tedious, but this text is fun, the language is fresh, and Heine’s intelligence shines through every line. A really impressive read, and still relevant today.

[Uroš Đurković · Rating 4 out of 5]

„Nemačka” je stihovan putopis i bockavi politički spev. Dakle, suprotno onome što bi neko mogao da očekuje, nikakva (zimska) bajka nije u pitanju, niti sentimentalno putovanje natopljeno patosom uzdaha, već kamenčić u cipeli za naciste i sve nacionalno razjarene duhove. Hajne je ovde i sarkastičan i lepršav, što odlično ilustruje zapažanje Branimira Živojinovića, koji je napisao kako Hajne duhom „pokriva prostor od kalambura do očajanja”. Obožavanje Šekspira kod romantičara nije ni nepoznato ni neobično, a mislim da je najjača spona uspeh u susretu suprotnosti. Ne postoji veliki romantičar koji sobom i svojim delom nije nosio neku nedokučivu i stalno inspirativnu protivrečnost. Zato Hajne može da natoči čašu žuči, ali i da je upakuje u šarenu foliju, svezanu mašnicom. Od Pariza kao nulte, početne tačke do Hamburga kao odredišta, Hajneovo književno-putničko ja iznosi važna i neudobna zapažanja o tome šta Nemačka jeste, šta je bila i kuda ide. Svako mesto i svaki susret sudeluju u ukupnom utisku – od gunđanja povodom pruske krutosti u Ahenu, gde carinici riju po prtljagu, ne znajući da je pesnikov jedini šverc onaj u njegovom umu; preko tada još nedovršene Kelnske katedrale (Hajne kaže zbog Lutera); preko Hagena, gde, pazite sad, putnik kod majke jede kupus, kuvani kesten, bakalara, haringe, punjena jaja, kobasice, dok svinjska glava stoji na stolu, a u kraju poznatom od detinjstva, osim dobre hrane, tu su i leševi obešeni o vrbe i konji u glibu. Sledi Minden, Hanover i, naposletku, Hamburg, gde se zaključuje kako je, u odnosu na prošli boravak sve isto, osim što su mršavi još tanji, debeli još ugojeniji, deca su ostarila, a starci podetinjili. I umesto rajnskog vina i obećavajućeg svenacionalnog Bildung-a, budućnost Nemačke nalazi se u senkama što blude u vonju kupusa i štavljene kože. (Miris kupusa je svima poznat, ali verujem da je malo ko svestan kakav smrad dolazi od prerađivanja odrane životinje. Ljudi treba da imaju to na umu kad čitaju, na primer, „Pokondirenu tikvu”. Nobles nije samo dignut nos već i neuspeli beg od smrada.) Na posletku, Hajne vešto parkira delo povezujući svoju kritičku optiku sa Aristofanom i dolazi do zaključka da je osuda koja potiče od umetnika najjača. Poručuje se, stoga, vladarima da se pripaze Danteovog „Pakla”. Bez obzira na to koliko delovala ubedljiva, priča o ubojitim umetnicima je davno minula. Štaviše, svi oni besprizorni likovi koji su završili u nekom klasičnom delu, zapravo su privilegovani. Kud ćete više nego da živite makar u zagradi ili fusnoti nekog velikog dela! To je, zapravo, i vrhunska ironija Hajneovog književnog poduhvata – kritikom je ispisao himnu Nemačkoj, koja je potrebna upravo zato što je neželjena. Usput je, kako to sa najvećim pesnicima biva, bio i prorok – smrad i senke su i te kako bile prisutne i postojane u dvadesetom veku, u čijim čeljustima nisu bili utamničeni samo stradalnici Nemačke, već i sama Nemačka. To je bolna, odvratna i opominjuća priča, a poseban dar je potreban da bi se nanjušio duh svog i u talogu mirisa, duh predstojećeg vremena. I mada je Hajne kod nas pre svega poznat kao liričar*, njegova satirična dela zavređuju svaku pažnju.

*Jedan od najblistavijih momenata mog srednjoškolskog obrazovanja je što smo morali da pesme nemačkih pesnika učimo napamet i tako i dan-danas znam Lorelai (prve tri strofe!), mada nemački jedva mogu da beknem
Ich weiß nicht was soll es bedeuten...

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like reading Heine. His poems have a real flow to them and it always pleases me to read them out loud. Each word has been carefully chosen and the rhyme is nearly always perfect. For me, reading Heine is the feeling of being at sea (while not being seasick): the soft lulling of the waves is the exact flow of these poems.

As for the Wintermärchen (Winter Fairytale) itself, I'm not always quite sure I fully understood it. Yes, it's a satire, definitely; but I felt that even though we have discussed this particular period of (literature) history in class, I'm not quite sure I fully got the whole satire. As with all satires, I think the reading experience improves when one understands the subject that's being ridiculed.

That's not to say that the Wintermärchen cannot be enjoyed without the proper background knowledge. If you ask me, Heine's writing style alone is reason enough to pick up this book of poems. There are the occasional sentences that stick around for example:

"Und viele Bücher trag ich im Kopf!
Ich darf es euch versichern,
Mein Kopf ist ein zwitscherndes Vogelnest
Von konfiszierlichen Büchern."

(I carry many books in my head! / I can assure you, / My head is (like) a nest of twittering birds / (full) of confiscated books. *)

And these few passages are really worth the read. My personal favourite Caput of the whole book was Caput 4, about the Kölner Dom. The one passage that amused me about that Caput was this one:

"Er ward nicht vollendet - und das ist gut.
Denn eben die Nichtvollendung
Macht ihn zum Denkmal von Deutschlands Kraft
Und protestantischer Sendung."

(It wasn't finished - and that's good. / The fact it remains unfinished / Makes it a monument of Germany's power / And Protestant's mission. *)

This particular bit amuses me, because even today the Kölner Dom isn't finished. In fact, the building of it is taking so long that many people seem to believe it will never be finished! A monk of its church told me that there is a German proverb that says: the day the Kölner Dom is finished, is the day the world ends. This saying has always stuck with me and it amused me to find it here in Heine's Wintermärchen.

But even for those who aren't familiar with German literature, you can pick up some clear clues about the climate of the time. Heine was, as you may or may not know, a poet living in exile because of his harsh critics on German society. The big part of the satire here is that he doesn't find Germany quite the place he had expected or hoped for. Heine went back to Paris after his visit saying he would write about how he thought Germany should be from there, which is a clear clue. The best clue you can find for his point of view can be found in his last Caput, where he warns kings not to insult the poets:

"Kennst du die Hölle des Dante nicht,
Die schrecklichen Terzetten?
Wen da der Dichter hineingesperrt,
Den kann kein Gott mehr retten -

Kein Gott, kein Heiland erlöst ihn je
Aus diesen singenden Flammen!
Nimm dich in acht, daß wir dich nicht
Zu solcher Hölle verdammen."

(Don't you know Dante's hell / Those hateful trios? / Who imprisons the poet there, / can no longer be saved by any God -

No God, no Saviour will ever save him / from these burning flames! / Beware, that we won't / damn you to such a hell. *)

Yes, even those not very familiar with history, should be able to taste Heine's bitterness here. Which is why I would say, that this book makes for a very good read: the writing is beautiful, the subjects are engaging (at least, if you care about Germany) and the book is a good depiction of its time. Even when you don't understand it completely, the underlying currents are clear.

But, most importantly, read Heine for his beautiful words. I know I will read much more by him: not just for his critics and sharp analyses of German society, but for his beautiful use of language. (Which is why I would strongly recommend reading this in German, although I'm sure a good translation would make for a good read as well.)

* These are very loose translations by yours truly, only meant to be able to understand this review and they in no way capture the beauty of Heine's writing.

[papilionna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genial und super witzig. Muss ich unbedingt noch mal in kommentierter Fassung lesen, um noch mehr zu verstehen.

[Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deutschland. Ein Wintermärchen.
Heinrich Heine (1797-1856)

In 1843, Heinrich Heine was in exile in France for thirteen years, when he becomes melancholic and homesick and decides to go back to Germany, to see his old mother and friends.

In the form of a long poem, and like a diary, Heine describes his travel adventures, as he starts off from Paris to Aachen, to Cologne and over the Rhine, to Hagen, and further up to Hamburg. At this point let me give you a sample of his humorous style:

„Von Köllen bis Hagen kostet die Post
Fünf Taler sechs Groschen preußisch.
Die Diligence war leider besetzt
Und ich kam in die offene Beichais.
---
Das ist ja meine Heimatluft!
Die glühende Wange empfand es!
Und dieser Landstraßenkot, er ist
Der Dreck meines Vaterlandes!

Die Pferde wedelten mit dem Schwanze
So traulich wie alte Bekannte,
Und Ihre Mistküchlein dünkten mir schön
Wie die Äpfel der Atalante!“

This part reminds us of the traveling conditions of the time. Who could imagine today to travel over several weeks, from Paris to Hamburg in various coaches, drawn by horses through the mud on unpaved roads rain come shine. Staying overnight in horse relays, feeding on anything you could get hold of.

And yet, the author gives us happy image day after day. He reports his dreams of the nights before, some historical events, strange encounters with ghosts and witches, always witty and funny.

He takes on in sharp criticism the Prussians, as invaders and occupiers.
He ridicules all religions as nothing more than superstition.

I could only understand his sarcasm and irony on politics and politicians of the time if I knew more about the European history of the early nineteenth century.

When he finally arrives in Hamburg, he meets his mother and seems to be impatient with her endless questioning.
On the lookout for one of his former girlfriends, he meets a sturdy fat blonde, who recognizes him and takes him to her tiny room.
They spend a happy time, and in the end, the woman who knows about witchcraft shows him a secret means of looking into Germany’ future.
He swears the condition of never to reveal the discovery to anybody.

But, what he does reveal, is quite disturbing. Even today.

In essence, this novel is a profoundly pessimistic view of Germany at the time.
It also a refusal of Nationalism and the powerful religious domination.

For modern readers, what remains, is the beautiful language, the witty and intelligent style of Hegel’s poetry.

[Ila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as part of my effort to read more German literature concomitant with studying the language and so read Deutschland, ein Wintermarchen in German. Heine is at his best with political poetry like Die Schleschien Weber and his stinging critique of German society resonates here as well. The German is surprisingly easy to follow, however, I would recommend having a working knowledge of the erstwhile political events to understand his work better.

Heine describes his journey from France to Hamburg, a return to his homeland after Napoleon's death. The narrative at Hamburg sagged somewhat since it delves into the more personal aspects of his life. Furthermore, the dialogue with Hammonia, the manifestation of Hamburg as a goddess, left me disgusted. Criticism of middle-class indifference, aristocratic arrogance, and solipsism is where Heine shines and there's plenty of it from attacking the Three Kings at the Cologne cathedral to ridiculing Frederick Barbarossa as a remnant of antiquity itself.

“Sir Barbarossa”, I cried out loud,
“You belong to an old fable-kingdom;
Go back to bed, we shall succeed,
Without your help, to gain our freedom.

The republican would scoff at us
If a ghost with sceptre and crown
Marched at the head of our ranks.
There’ll be much laughter in town!

He never pretends to be balanced in his opinions but it would be foolish to say that Heine didn't care about Germany. Patriotism made him want his country to do better. I particularly loved the ending where he invokes the might of poets and writers:

Have you ever heard of Dante’s hell,
With its frightful verses and rhyme?
Whoever the poet imprisons there,
No God can ever free on time.

No God, no Saviour can deliver him
From those flames that burn.
Beware! O king and better behave,
For soon may well be your turn!

[Kalkwerk · Rating 3 out of 5]

1831 emigrierte der gebürtige Düsseldorfer Heinrich Heine nach Frankreich, um sich den politischen Verhältnissen und Zensurbedingungen im restaurativen Deutschland zu entziehen. Äußerer Anlass für das berühmte "Wintermärchen" war Heines 1843 unternommene Deutschlandreise. Im Januar 1844 erstmals erschienen, wurde das "Wintermärchen" in Preußen bereits im Oktober desselben Jahres verboten.

Und das verwundert ganz und gar nicht. Im Gewand der Volksliedstrophe und gebrochen durch die für ihn typische Reim-Ironie übt Heine Kritik an allem, was bei drei im philiströsen Federbett liegt: an ideologischen Einflüsterungen und nationalistischer Politik, an zeitgenössischen Erlösungsmythen, an der aggressiven Frankophobie, an der starken Präsenz preußischen Militärs, an der katholischen Kirche, an den schlechten Lebensbedingungen - die Liste ließe sich noch lange fortschreiben. So verträumt der Titel anmutet: Heines "Wintermärchen" ist ein hochpolitischer und reizvoll ambivalenter Text, vielleicht die bedeutendste literarische Stimme der Vormärzzeit.

Warum trotzdem nur drei Sterne? Sprachlich halte ich den Text für überaus gut gealtert. Er ist flüssig lesbar und wer "widersetzig" auf "aristokrätzig" reimt, verdient nichts anderes als zwei dicke Daumen nach oben. Auch inhaltlich halte ich das "Wintermärchen" für einen scharfsinnigen Text, der zum nachdenken anregt - aber als Leser des 21. Jahrhunderts, auch als einer, der sich in der (Literatur-)Geschichte des 19. Jahrhunderts gut auskennt, sind viele der Heineschen Spitzen nur noch mit viel Mühe (und Nachschlagefleiß) verständlich. Kein Text, den ich zur unverbindlichen Privatlektüre empfehlen würde.

[Marisa Fernandes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Se tivesse de encontrar uma palavra apenas para "Deutschland. Ein Wintermärchen" de Heinrich Heine, escolheria satírico...!

Sob a forma de poema, Heine conta a sua viagem de regresso a Hamburg, em 1843, para ir visitar a mãe depois de 13 anos passados a viver em Paris. Pelo caminho, vai falando numa futura unidade da Alemanha, começada com a Zollverein sob direcção do Estado da Prússia, bem como em alguns dos simbolos que estarão na base daquilo que significará "ser alemão". Uma parte, para mim, particularmente engraçada é quando o autor salienta o facto dos franceses andarem a estudar os autores alemães como Kant, Fichte e Hegel, tendo deixado de lado Voltaire.

Gostei.

[Jakob Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Das Buch ist einfach ne 10/10

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heines "Wintermärchen" ist für mich eines der Bücher, vor denen man einen großen historischen Abriss lesen sollte. Die Zeit vor der deutschen Nationalgründung 1871, die Zeit der vielen gescheiterten Revolutionen in Deutschland (1848, um nur eine zu nennen), die Zeit um 1800 in der maßgeblich die deutsche Nationalidee geprägt wird ist eine sehr verwirrende Epoche, meines Empfindens nach. Das Nachwort der Reclam-Ausgabe leistet da schon Einiges, könnte aber noch etwas einfacher herunter gebrochen sein.
Es ist ein Buch, in das man sich hinein finden muss, da der Zeitgeist schon längst verflogen ist. Das fiel mir bei der Lektüre persönlich schwer. Eher das historische Interesse an Heines Person hat mich vorangetrieben, dieses Buch zu lesen. Ansonsten sehe ich nicht viel Interessantes darin.
Volksliedton, viele Kreuzreime (manche davon meisterhaft) und eine Erinnerung an den Großband in Hamburg.
Heine war vermutlich seiner Zeit voraus, mit einem etwas gemäßigteren Nationalismus als seine anderen Zeitgenossen, als hätte er geahnt, dass aus Nationalismus nichts Gutes erwachsen wird.

[Wolfgang Amadeus Brozart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beleid'ge lebendige Dichter nicht
Sie haben Flammen und Waffen,
Die furchtbarer sind als Jovis Blitz,
Den ja der Poet erschaffen
-----------------------------------
Eins muss man Heine lassen; Er hat gut gespeist

[Mir]

Anyone have a translation recommendation?
I'd prefer the uncensored version to the original publication, also.

[Echo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Und schwindet Dir vom Inhalt
Dieses Buches auch das Meiste,
Das Versmaß spukt Dir sicherlich
Noch tagelang im Geiste.

[Oscar Jelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reread. Savage and brilliant as ever.

[Bibliothecat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heine's Winter Tale is a very clever piece - it's perfect if you love picking out all the hidden messages, meanings and links. There's just so much to find! Unfortunately, poems and satires are not my cup of tea. I can appreciate its artistic and historical value, but I can't appreciate it as just a story.

It was hard to concentrate on the 'story' when there was so much going on in every line - you'd always need to stop reading and figure out what it actually means. I generally can't read poems well, they just always seem to escape me. Of course, I understand that this was not written with the intention of it being an entertaining story - it had particular purposes.

I doubt I will ever read this one again - although, who knows? - but for now, I can say that I think quite highly of it, even if it wasn't to my personal liking.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die schönste Form des Patriotismus: Die kritische!

[Jonna. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Fatal ist mir das Lumpenpack, das, um die Herzen zu rühren, den Patriotismus stellt zur Schau mit all seinen Geschwüren."

[nele · Rating 3 out of 5]

1. harmonia ist nicht so eine 💅
2. heinrich wär zu 100% ein food blogger geworden

[Ina · Rating 4 out of 5]

romantische ironie is onto something, das war wirklich funny

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heinrich Heine, wer hätte gedacht,
ein Schlingel sondern gleichen.
Mehr hundert Bars in einem durch,
kein Rapper der nicht müsst weichen.

ich hab gelacht, ich war erstaunt,
so modern die Politik von damals.
drumm hoff ich, dass wir deutschen
nicht vergessen die vielen Mahnmals.

ein Hoch auf Demokratie und Freiheit,
so wie er sie stehts hat wollen.
lieb die Menschheit, ohne aber,
dann wird diese Welt zur tollen!

ein Dichter werd ich nicht mehr,
Begeisterung trumpft das Talent.
doch hör auf meine letzten Worte:
lies Heine bevor es hast verpennt!

[Paula Josina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the World Challenge: Germany
I listened to a German audiobook in between work breaks. I liked the rhyme scheme and I already knew some parts because of school. If you put it more into the historical context it also give a really interesting perspective.
I liked it that I picked this book for Germany because I think it’s an important novel for the history of that country 🙋🏼‍♀️

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dies ist eines der "99 Bücher, die man gelesen haben muss" und schon lange in meinem Bücherregal.
Perfektes Buch für den entspannten Jahresausklang und regt *festhalten* zum Denken an ;-)
Ich finde es intelligent und ziemlich forsch geschrieben, Heine war seiner Zeit weit voraus und ein wirklich kluger Kopf.
Lesenswert!

[Verlagsamateur]

lorant_pennt.png

[Celly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these poems so so much <33

[Charlotte Lawton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heine had some weird dreams

[dominika · Rating 2 out of 5]

nudne

[Constanza · Rating 5 out of 5]

El talento de Heinrich Heine se expresa de forma magistral en este libro, a través de una ingeniosa ironía, y a la vez, una profunda sensibilidad. Sus versos son cáusticos, y en ellos critica abiertamente el orden político y social de Alemania. Sin embargo, a pesar del pesimismo de la poesía de Heine, se puede observar su amor por su país incluso entre los más sarcásticos juegos de palabras. El título del libro es dulce y evoca sueños invernales, y aunque el contenido de los poemas muestran un espíritu crítico e irreverente, uno no puede dejar de pensar en la nostalgia que sintió el poeta al escribir sobre Alemania. Creo que el amor de Heine por su tierra fue, a pesar de las grandes decepciones que vivió en Alemania, infinito y lleno de ternura. Heinrich Heine fue un genio literario, un hombre que revolucionó la forma de hacer poesía, y por ello es uno de los más grandes poetas alemanes.

[The Bursting Bookshelf of a Wallflower · Rating 3 out of 5]

Geistreich, humorvoll und kritisch! Deutschland, ein Wintermärchen ist definitiv eine spannende Reise!