Christian Johann Heinrich Heine (13 December 1797 – 17 February 1856) was a
German poet,
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 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. Heine spent the last 25 years of his life as an expatriate in Paris.