It is indescribable how joyfully, naively, and gracefully the Ilse plunges down over the adventurously shaped rock formations she encounters along her course, causing the water to wildly splash up here or foam over there, gushing out of various crevices like from crazy watering cans, pouring in pure arcs, and then dancing over the small stones below like a lively girl. Yes, the legend is true; the Ilse is a princess, running down the mountain with laughter and bloom. The Harz Journey, overflowing with wit and irony, then contemplative and reflective, only to burst into laughter again when things become too romantic. It is one of Heinrich Heine's most characteristic texts and one of the most beautiful texts in German literature. It deserves to be bound in linen, and that is why we have done so. An extensive introduction by Joachim Bark.