On the occasion of the 400th birthday of Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676), Christian Bunners presents the most comprehensive account of the life and work of the great Baroque poet, known to this day, in nearly a century. Bunners not only provides a detailed description of Paul Gerhardt's life journey but also thoroughly addresses the representation and interpretation of his work in its diverse impact. In addition to questions related to church history, piety, and poetry, his interest extends to the mentalities, music, and social history approaches to Gerhardt's oeuvre. From the still little-explored history of the impact of the greatest Baroque poet in the German language, Bunners particularly highlights his influence as a hymn writer, as well as his international and pastoral resonance, for example, with Philipp Jakob Spener, John Wesley, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Joachim Ernst Berendt.