Hymns to the Night : Spiritual Songs

Novalis was the most significant representative of German romanticism at the end of the eighteenth century.

A true contemporary of the approaching scientific age, he excelled not only as a poet, writer, religious thinker, and philosopher, but also as an enthusiastic student of science, mathematics, chemistry, physics, medicine, mineralogy and mining -- even working as an inspector of coal pits.The full revelation of Novalis's creative genius came as a result of the tragic death of his bride-to-be, Sophie von Kuhn.

While visiting her grave, Novalis experienced a condition of spiritual enlightenment-the fruit of which can be found in these inspired verses.

Hymns to the Night gives a poetic description of Novalis's spiritual awakening, while Spiritual Songs expresses the new relationship to the world, humanity, and Christianity that became accessible to his transmuted soul.