You may not know me, but you have heard a lot about me. With these words, Heymann alludes to melodies from the 1950s that indeed everyone knows: "Das gibt's nur einmal, das kommt nicht wieder," "Ein Freund, ein guter Freund," "Das ist die Liebe der Matrosen," "Irgendwo auf der Welt." It's no wonder that during the brief period of sound films before 1933, he was the most successful film composer at UFA. Born in 1896 in Königsberg, he starts with serious music, co-founds the literary-musical cabaret, and serves as the general music director of UFA during the silent film era. In French exile, he composes operettas and in Hollywood, he works on over 40 films, including Lubitsch's "Ninotschka." His return to Germany confronts him with a changed situation. His versatile family, including four wives, and his balance of wit and humanity are further highlights of this book.