Stefan George (1868-1933) is considered one of the most influential German-speaking poets of the 20th century. He gained fame not only through his poems but also through his pronounced inclination for staging. He created the George Circle, a group of like-minded men who devotedly followed the charismatic poet and spread his ideas. As a result, George's persona remains controversial to this day. "The Year of the Soul," a cycle of seasons that omits spring, was created over a period of six years. The final verses were written just before publication in the autumn of 1897. The overall tone is melancholic and dark. The poems speak of sadness and pain, feelings of abandonment, and an inner emptiness. Even the poems of summer, which are interspersed with moments of hope and joy, are fundamentally marked by a deep melancholy.