Kleist, Heinrich von, << klyst, HYN rihkh fawn >> (1777-1811), was a German writer. His plays and stories often deal with trust and faith between people. His characters often suffer from confused feelings and find themselves in violent or desperate situations.
Kleist’s short novel Michael Kohlhaas (1808, revised 1810) is a story of extreme personal rebellion against public injustice. His best plays include the romantic Kathchen von Heilbronn (1810) and the historical drama Prinz Friedrich von Homburg (published in 1821, after his death). The Broken Jug (1808) is one of the few lasting comedies in German drama.
Kleist was born on Oct. 18, 1777, in Frankfurt (an der Oder). He served as an officer in the Prussian Army, but became dissatisfied with military life and resigned in 1799. Finally, overcome by inner torment, Kleist shot and killed a woman friend and himself on Nov. 21, 1811, at the age of 34.
