HEINRICH HEINE - Repositories

Blackguard and Apostate
"Both prose and verse of this author are lively and
entertaining, nor does it seem improbable that he
may one day make a considerable figure in the
world; for, although these volumes have apparently
been written with the utmost carelessness and nonchalance,
yet passages occur here and there which
prove that Mr. Heine is perfectly able to adopt
a higher tone, when he thinks proper to use the
requisite exertion. This is particularly indicated by
his poetry. As the matter now stands, Mr. Heine
has (very unintentionally, perhaps) given such
offense to many people by his facetious levity of
style and satirical illustrations of character that his
book has been actually proscribed in the Austrian
and Prussian states!" ^
It is doubtful whether the writer of the review
was aware that Heine had been in England during
the preceding year. The London press had mentioned,
among its political news items, the arrival
from Hamburg of Mr. Heine, who was on his way
to France. The young poet proudly communicated
this fact to Varnhagen von Ense, the Prussian
diplomat, in a letter of June 1, 1827.' He did not
hint, however, that he owed whatever attention
he attracted in London circles during his brief stay
far less to his own literary prominence than to
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