Heinrich Heine und die Diaspora

How did the diasporic existence affect Heinrich Heine – in terms of both his work and his self-image as a writer? In a paradigmatic manner his work reflects the shift from a religious to a secular understanding of the Jewish diaspora which is typical of the 19th century. The introduction of this new perspective into German literature can also be viewed as a result of the Jewish self-awareness of political authors in Heine’s time.