Romanticism

Author: Heinrich Heine (Author), Xue Hua (Translator)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Romanticism: As a man, I have a responsibility to refute this outstanding cancan dance. She (Madame de Sta?l) has told many things in her series of reports on Germany that were unprecedented in France, and because novelty casts a magical spell over the intellectual world, the effect of this cancan dance becomes even more dangerous. I did not pay attention to the scattered errors and distortions; I first wanted to let the French know what the so-called glorified Romanticism, which Madame de Sta?l so highly praised, was actually like. I pointed out that it was merely a pile of worms, which the sacred fishermen of Rome would make good use of as bait to catch souls. Romanticism is one of Heine's most important works. It is a summary of the development of German literature after Goethe's death, as well as a program for the new German revolutionary democratic literature. Although Heine's summary and program had many flaws, before the emergence of Marxism, they were the best summary and the most progressive program. This is a highly combative work that critiques German reactionary Romanticism from every angle—politically, philosophically, religiously, artistically, from worldviews and historical development, from the times to the individuals. It depicts the decline of the movement, argues for the inevitability of its decay, and proclaims its final death. Heine's combative critique and analysis of German reactionary Romanticism had a significant impact at the time. His comrades were thrilled by it, while his enemies were filled with terror. The German edition of the book was banned by the Prussian government just one month after its publication.