Die Marquise von O... Heinrich von Kleist - Die Marquise von O. ist eine Novelle von Heinrich von Kleist, die zuerst im Februar 1808 in der Literaturzeitschrift Phöbus erschien. Der genaue Entstehungszeitraum der Erzählung ist nicht bekannt, spätestens Ende 1807 war das Werk jedoch abgeschlossen. Die Handlung spielt in Italien.Ausgangspunkt der Marquise von O. ist die skandalöse Begebenheit einer unwissentlich zustande gekommenen Schwangerschaft. Durch verschiedene sprachliche Mittel wird der Geschichte ein Eindruck von Authentizität verliehen. Zu diesen Mitteln zählen beispielsweise der Untertitel Nach einer wahren Begebenheit, deren Schauplatz von Norden nach dem Süden verlegt worden ist sowie die Abkürzung der in der Novelle erwähnten Orts- und Personennamen. Letztere legt eine tatsächliche Existenz von Figuren nahe, deren Identität nicht preisgegeben werden darf. Der tatsächliche Wahrheitsgehalt der Novelle ist jedoch fraglich.

The dramatist, writer, lyricist, and publicist Heinrich von Kleist was born in Frankfurt an der Oder in 1777. Upon his father's early death in 1788 when he was ten, he was sent to the house of the preacher S. Cartel and attended the French Gymnasium. In 1792, Kleist entered the guard regiment in Potsdam and took part in the Rhein campaign against France in 1796. Kleist voluntarily resigned from army service in 1799 and until 1800 studied philosophy, physics, mathematics, and political science at Viadrina University in Frankfurt an der Oder. He went to Berlin early in the year 1800 and penned his drama 'Die Familie Ghonorez'. Kleist, who tended to irrationalism and was often tormented by a longing for death, then lit out restlessly through Germany, France, and Switzerland.After several physical and nervous breakdowns, in which he even burned the manuscript of one of his dramas, Heinrich von Kleist reentered the Prussian army in 1804, working in Berlin and Königsberg. There he wrote 'Amphitryon' and 'Penthesilea.'After being discharged in 1807, Kleist was apprehended on suspicion of being a spy. After this he went to Dresden, where he edited the art journal 'Phoebus' with Adam Müller and completed the comedy 'The Broken Pitcher' ('Der zerbrochene Krug') and the folk play 'Katchen von Heilbronn' ('Das Käthchen von Heilbronn').Back in Berlin, the one time Rousseau devotee had become a bitter opponent of Napoleon. In 1811, he finished 'Prinz Friedrich von Homburg.' Finding himself again in financial and personal difficulties, Heinrich von Kleist, together with his lover, the terminally ill Henriette Vogel, committed suicide near the Wannsee in Berlin in 1811.

Autorentext
The dramatist, writer, lyricist, and publicist Heinrich von Kleist was born in Frankfurt an der Oder in 1777. Upon his father's early death in 1788 when he was ten, he was sent to the house of the preacher S. Cartel and attended the French Gymnasium. In 1792, Kleist entered the guard regiment in Potsdam and took part in the Rhein campaign against France in 1796. Kleist voluntarily resigned from army service in 1799 and until 1800 studied philosophy, physics, mathematics, and political science at Viadrina University in Frankfurt an der Oder. He went to Berlin early in the year 1800 and penned his drama "Die Familie Ghonorez". Kleist, who tended to irrationalism and was often tormented by a longing for death, then lit out restlessly through Germany, France, and Switzerland.After several physical and nervous breakdowns, in which he even burned the manuscript of one of his dramas, Heinrich von Kleist reentered the Prussian army in 1804, working in Berlin and Königsberg. There he wrote "Amphitryon" and "Penthesilea."After being discharged in 1807, Kleist was apprehended on suspicion of being a spy. After this he went to Dresden, where he edited the art journal "Phoebus" with Adam Müller and completed the comedy "The Broken Pitcher" ("Der zerbrochene Krug") and the folk play "Katchen von Heilbronn" ("Das Käthchen von Heilbronn").Back in Berlin, the one time Rousseau devotee had become a bitter opponent of Napoleon. In 1811, he finished "Prinz Friedrich von Homburg." Finding himself again in financial and personal difficulties, Heinrich von Kleist, together with his lover, the terminally ill Henriette Vogel, committed suicide near the Wannsee in Berlin in 1811.