Heinrich von Kleist’s novella
Die Verlobung in St. Domingo[
The Betrothal in Santo Domingo] was first published in 1811 under the title of
Die Verlobung[
The Betrothal] in August Kuhn’s literary periodical
Der Freimüthige. It was subsequently included in the second volume of Kleist’s stories –
Erzählungen. Von Heinrich von Kleist. Zweiter Teil –published towards the end of that same year.
Kleist’s novella is set on the island of Santo Domingo during the black uprising of 1803 against the white plantation owners and the Napoleonic forces sent by the National Convent to restore slavery. The story begins with an account of how Congo Hoango – a former slave who had been granted his freedom by his master, M. Villeneuve – had immediately joined the black revolutionaries and
1279 words
Citation: Allan, Sean. "Die Verlobung in St. Domingo". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 20 April 2008 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=13122, accessed 01 April 2025.]
