Plot Summary

Michael Kohlhaas

Heinrich von Kleist
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Michael Kohlhaas

Fiction | Novella | Adult | Published in 1810

Book Brief

Heinrich von Kleist

Michael Kohlhaas

Fiction | Novella | Adult | Published in 1810
Book Details
Pages

94

Format

Novella • Fiction

Setting

Germany • 16th century

Publication Year

1810

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In the novella Michael Kohlhaas by Heinrich von Kleist, a wronged horse dealer named Michael Kohlhaas seeks justice after his horses are taken and mistreated by an unscrupulous nobleman. Denied legal recourse and spurred by the death of his wife, Kohlhaas initiates a violent rebellion against the injustice, ultimately leading to his capture and complex legal and moral struggles.

Challenging

Mysterious

Dark

Emotional

Suspenseful

Reviews & Readership

3.9

5,741 ratings

55%

Loved it

28%

Mixed feelings

18%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Heinrich von Kleist's Michael Kohlhaas is celebrated for its gripping narrative and moral complexity, exploring themes of justice and retribution. The prose is dense and challenging, which some readers find invigorating, while others view it as a barrier. The novella’s historical setting and intense emotional depth are widely appreciated, though its bleakness may not appeal to everyone.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Michael Kohlhaas?

Readers who appreciate intense moral dilemmas, revenge narratives, and complex character studies will enjoy Heinrich von Kleist's Michael Kohlhaas. Fans of Moby-Dick by Herman Melville or Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, with their deep philosophical inquiries, will find this novella deeply engaging.

3.9

5,741 ratings

55%

Loved it

28%

Mixed feelings

18%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

94

Format

Novella • Fiction

Setting

Germany • 16th century

Publication Year

1810

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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