Heidenröslein

“Heidenröslein. Lieder von Liebeslust und Frühlingsfreud” is a poetry collection by German editer and poet Karl Zettel, published in 1893 in Stuttgart in the German language. This refined anthology of poems of famous German poets is devoted to the themes of love, spring awakening, and the joy of existence, created in the best traditions of late Romanticism. The title “Heidenröslein” (“Little Wild Rose”) refers to the romantic image of a wildflower — a symbol of purity, innocence, and the fleeting beauty of emotions. The poems in the anthology are imbued with subtle emotionality, warmth of feeling, and poetic admiration for nature. Addressing a world of delicate emotions, dreaminess, and heartfelt sincerity, they resonated particularly strongly with a female audience and became a popular gift edition. The collection stands as a vivid example of the elegant book publishing of the late 19th century. Its compact format, artistic illustrations, cloth binding with gold embossing, gilded page edges, and original dust jacket highlight its aesthetic value. The copy held in the Rare Books Collection of our library is of interest not only as a literary work but also as a cultural artifact of its time, harmoniously blending poetic content with refined artistic design.