Ideas: The Le Grand Book by Heinrich Heine. Short summary

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Addressing the fictional lady, the author shares childhood memories, reflections on politics, and on the fate of European nations. His lyrical confession is intertwined with world history.

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The author, speaking to an imaginary interlocutor, discusses heaven and hell, his experiences of love, and thoughts of suicide that he once had. He gives examples of strong individuals who love life, and he thanks God that he is alive. Heine recalls his childhood in Düsseldorf, the little Veronica, who died so young, the appointment as elector of a relative of Napoleon and the entry of French troops into the city.

The boy’s imagination was struck by the French drummer Le Grand, who lived there and taught Heinrich the language and military history. Many years later, the author meets Le Grand again, returning from Russian captivity. The soldier dies before his eyes, and the poet pierces the drum with a knife.

Heine explains to the imaginary madame the title of his book and the origin of the themes for his work. In Godesberg he meets a girl in whose eyes Veronica’s soul lives. She is his invisible interlocutor. Suffering accompanies the poet all his life, but he proposes to change the subject and talk about balls and fun.