Bernd Heinrich Wilhelm von Kleist
- Born:
- October 18, 1777, Frankfurt an der Oder, Margraviate of Brandenburg, Prussia
- Died:
- November 21, 1811, Wannsee, near Berlin, Prussia (suicide)
- Nationality:
- Prussian
- Profession(s):
- Dramatist, Poet, Novelist
Early Life and Education
- Born into a Prussian aristocratic family with a long military tradition.
- Entered the Prussian Army in 1792.
- Resigned from the army in 1799, seeking intellectual pursuits.
- Studied law and philosophy at the University of Frankfurt an der Oder, but did not complete a degree.
Career and Major Achievements
- Embarked on travels throughout Europe, including Switzerland and France, experiencing profound personal and intellectual crises.
- Published his first tragedy, The Schroffenstein Family, in 1803.
- Served as co-editor of the art and literature journal Phöbus with Adam Müller.
- Experienced difficulty achieving financial stability and critical acclaim during his lifetime.
Notable Works
- Plays: The Schroffenstein Family (1803), Penthesilea (1808), The Broken Jug (1808), Prince Frederick of Homburg (1821, posthumously performed)
- Novellas: Michael Kohlhaas (1810), The Marquise of O (1808), The Earthquake in Chile (1807)
Legacy and Impact
Bernd Heinrich Wilhelm von Kleist, as explored in any detailed "biographie heinrich kleist biography," is considered one of the most important German-language dramatists and storytellers of the Romantic period. His works, characterized by psychological depth, intense emotion, and complex ethical dilemmas, have had a lasting influence on literature and theatre.