HEINRICH HEINE - Repositories

Heinrich Heine
sider the subject further. He came to see the contemporary
state of German literature as the consequence
of causes that reached back for generations
and he, therefore, intended to deal in detail with
Germany since the days of Luther.
A month later the Athenaeum had to urge its
readers to exercise patience for a few weeks longer.
Apparently difficulties had arisen and the editor
still hoped that these could be overcome. Finally,
on February 15, 1834, the readers had to be given
the unpleasant news that Heine's articles were unpublishable.
"M. Heine has considered his subject
under four different heads — religion — philosophy
— history — and literature. Now, with all possible
respect for M. Heine's sincerity, and all admiration
of his genius, he is certainly one of the
last men to whom we should have applied for an
article on the history or influence of Christianity;
we should have anticipated just such an essay as
we have received — one full of splendid passages,
but sarcastic, withering, and appalling — one
which, in the language of M. Quinet, leaves 'nature
a void, the heavens a desert, and the heart
also.' " *
The series of articles, which the English journal
refused to print, began to appear in Paris from
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