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Michael Kohlhaas

Newly translated by Michael Hofmann
By Heinrich Von Kleist
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Michael Kohlhaas by Heinrich Von Kleist is a gripping tale set in 16th-century Germany. It follows a horse trader named Michael Kohlhaas, who becomes embroiled in a quest for justice after a nobleman wrongs him. His pursuit of fairness and righteousness escalates into a broader rebellion, exploring themes of law, morality, and societal order. The narrative delves into the complexities of justice and personal integrity in a turbulent era.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This classic novella may appeal to you if you're intrigued by tales of justice, rebellion, and the complexities of the human spirit. Set in 16th-century Germany, it follows a horse dealer's relentless pursuit of justice against a corrupt nobleman, exploring themes of morality and the personal cost of vengeance. If you enjoy stories with historical depth and psychological insights, this might capture your interest.

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When his attempts to claim his rights are thwarted by bureaucracy and nepotism, Kohlhaas vows to take justice into his own - increasingly bloody - hands.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

One man's fight for revenge against a corrupt justice system. Kleist's influential German novella has been newly translated by the renowned Michael Hofmann.

'I finished it in one sitting. Probably for the tenth time... it carries me along waves of wonder' — Franz Kafka

Michael Kohlhaas has been wronged. He will have justice.

Based on the real life of an ordinary horse-dealer cheated by a government official, Michael Kohlhaas is the darkly comical and magnificently weird story of one man's alienation from a corrupt legal system. When his attempts to claim his rights are thwarted by bureaucracy and nepotism, Kohlhaas vows to take justice into his own— increasingly bloody— hands. Will he be remembered as a dangerous enemy of the peace, or a vigilante hero?

Praised by Franz Kafka, Thomas Mann, Susan Sontag, Roberto Bolaño, Werner Herzog, and J. M. Coetzee, this is one of the most influential tales in German literature. In this vital new translation by the renowned poet Michael Hofmann, Kleist's bizarre, brutal and maddening story is urgent today.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Kleist's novel, as rendered in Michael Hofmann's vibrant translation, presents a compelling introduction to the author's intense and peculiar style. Reviewers highlight the tale's exploration of bravery and folly, celebrating its dramatic and often unsettling qualities. Esteemed figures like Susan Sontag and Paul Auster admire its dark narrative speed and inevitability, while Werner Herzog appreciates Kleist's profound impact on personal understanding.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781784877354

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 09 September 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by Michael Hofmann
  • Translated by Michael Hofmann

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 7.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 199.0mm

Weight: 86g

Pages: 112

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Fiction Fiction in Translation General Fiction Gifts $20-$50 Heinrich Von Kleist In Stock Books In-Stock Fiction Books Literary Fiction New Release Fiction Penguin Books

About the Author

Heinrich von Kleist (1777-1811) was a German poet, dramatist, novelist, short-story writer, and journalist. He committed double suicide with a terminally ill friend.

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