Heinrich von Kleist committed suicide in 1811. His masterpiece, Prince Friedrich von Homburg, is set in the world of Prussian militarism. The young cavalry general of the title achieves swift victory in the field, only to be sentenced to death for rash disobedience. In the comedy, The Broken Pitcher, a visiting judge comes to inspect a small village and finds it rife with corruption. Ordeal by Fire is a beguiling piece about the mysterious love of an armour-repairer's daughter for a young travelling knight.
