Heinrich Heine was a German poet, journalist, essayist, and literary critic who lived in the 19th century. He is known for his lyrical poetry and his critical writings on German society and politics. Heine's works often reflected his experiences as a Jewish man living in a time of political and social upheaval in Europe. His poetry and prose have had a lasting impact on German literature and he is considered one of the most important German writers of the 19th century.