The Nocturnal Watch of Bonaventura

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Hidden behind the pseudonym Bonaventura, Ernst August Friedrich Klingemann (1777–1831) was identified as the author of “The Nocturnal Watch” only in 1987. The cutting satire aimed at authorities, clergy, and judges is, at times, so sharp that using a pseudonym might have been the only defense against the righteous indignation of those targeted. Ironically, this is the only work from Klingemann's extensive oeuvre that has stood the test of time. The Nocturnal Watch, a classic in horror literature, represents the darker side of the romantic spirit, where the devil is the father, the bride comes from the asylum, and gravediggers and wandering spirits are ordinary companions.