Heinrich von Kleist books in order
German poet, dramatist, novelist and short story writer
- Lived
- 1777–1811
- Country
- Germany
- Books
- 7
Heinrich von Kleist published 1 novel, 1 novella and 5 plays, beginning with Das Käthchen Von Heilbronn (1810). The best-known is The Broken Jug (1811).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Heinrich von Kleist
Start here
The Broken Jug
Heinrich von Kleist's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
On the Gradual Proliferation of Thoughts in Speech (1878)
Novellas in order
St. Cecilia (1810)
Plays in order
Das Käthchen Von Heilbronn (1810)
The Broken Jug (1811)
The Battle of Arminius (1821)
The Prince of Homburg (1821)
Penthesilea (1951)
Film and TV adaptations
- The Broken Jug (1937)Film · from The Broken Jug
- Jungfer, Sie gefällt mir (1969)Film · from The Broken Jug
About Heinrich von Kleist
Bernd Heinrich Wilhelm von Kleist was a German poet, dramatist, novelist, short story writer and journalist. His best known works are the theatre plays The Prince of Homburg, Das Käthchen von Heilbronn, The Broken Jug, Amphitryon, and Penthesilea, and the novellas Michael Kohlhaas and The Marquise of O. Kleist ended his life in a suicide pact by shooting himself together with a close female friend who was terminally ill.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Heinrich von Kleist FAQ
- How many books has Heinrich von Kleist written?
- Heinrich von Kleist published 1 novel, 1 novella and 5 plays that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Heinrich von Kleist's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with The Broken Jug.
- What is Heinrich von Kleist's last book?
- St. Cecilia (1810).
- What is Heinrich von Kleist's most famous book?
- The Broken Jug (1811) is Heinrich von Kleist's most widely read book.
- Which Heinrich von Kleist books have been adapted?
- 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including The Broken Jug (film, 1937).
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.