Heinrich Heine was
a rather controversial 19th century German poet. He was born
in Dusseldorf in 1797. His lyrics have inspired such composers
as Mendelssohn, Schubert, and Schumann. Moving to Paris in
1831, he wrote newspaper articles on democracy and capitalism.
In 1835, the Federal German Diet tried to enforce a nationwide ban
on all of his works, and he was forced to remain in Paris. He
corresponded with Karl Marx.
The last 8 years of
his life were marred by illness which kept him completely
bedridden, although he still wrote. He died in Paris in 1859
and is buried in the Cimetière de Montmartre.
