Kleist

Kleist, EWALD CHRISTIAN VON, German poet, was born at Zeblin, near Köslin in Pomerania, on 7th March 1715. In 1740 Frederick the Great induced him to enter the Prussian army; he was severely wounded whilst leading an attack on a hostile battery at the battle of Kunersdorf, and died twelve days later (24th August 1759) at Frankfort-on-the-Oder. The lyric poet Gleim first taught him how to develop his poetic talents. His name is best known from his Poems, especially the one entitled Frühling, a sort of descriptive lyric. Besides this he wrote tales (Die Freundschaft und Arist), idylls (Irin, &c.), fables, and hymns. The latest edition of his Works was issued by A. Sauer (1884). See Life by Einbeck (1861).