Heinrich von Kleist

Heinrich von Kleist (Bernd Heinrich Wilhelm von Kleist, 1777–1811) was a German dramatist, poet, and prose writer associated with the Romantic era. Born in Frankfurt (Oder), he served briefly in the Prussian army before turning to literature. His work is marked by psychological intensity, moral conflict, and abrupt reversals of fortune. Kleist wrote influential plays including *The Broken Jug* and *Penthesilea*, as well as the novella *Michael Kohlhaas*. He also produced essays and short fiction, and co-founded the Berlin newspaper *Berliner Abendblätter* (1810–1811). Kleist died in 1811 near Berlin in a suicide pact with Henriette Vogel.