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A review by zurpel
Michael Kohlhaas by Heinrich von Kleist
4.0
Michael Kohlhaas is a classic in German literature. I found the book by accident and really enjoyed it.
Michael Kohlhaas tells the story of a horse-dealer of the same name, who encounters injustice by the rulers of his country and is determined to fight for his rights and obtain justice. When his law-suit fails to achieve the desired results he is even prepared to take up arms against. This story is based on real events that happened in Brandenburg and Saxony (both Germany) during the mid-16th century.
I could probably relate to the story all the more because I study law, so the legal problems that make up a large part of the story interest me on a professional basis as well. But I found it even more intriguing for the moral aspects it presents and the questions it raises. Where does one’s right to fight for justice end? While this is set in a time and society quite different from the present, I found that the questions and values presented in this book have not become outdated.
This is really a recommended read for everyone. And while I’m at it I have to praise the LibriVox narration once again. I listened to the German LibriVox solo narration, which was really good. I’ve also noticed that LibriVox also has an English narration of the book, but haven’t listened to that, so I can’t say anything about the quality of that version.
Michael Kohlhaas tells the story of a horse-dealer of the same name, who encounters injustice by the rulers of his country and is determined to fight for his rights and obtain justice. When his law-suit fails to achieve the desired results he is even prepared to take up arms against. This story is based on real events that happened in Brandenburg and Saxony (both Germany) during the mid-16th century.
I could probably relate to the story all the more because I study law, so the legal problems that make up a large part of the story interest me on a professional basis as well. But I found it even more intriguing for the moral aspects it presents and the questions it raises. Where does one’s right to fight for justice end? While this is set in a time and society quite different from the present, I found that the questions and values presented in this book have not become outdated.
This is really a recommended read for everyone. And while I’m at it I have to praise the LibriVox narration once again. I listened to the German LibriVox solo narration, which was really good. I’ve also noticed that LibriVox also has an English narration of the book, but haven’t listened to that, so I can’t say anything about the quality of that version.