Books by "Franz Kafka"
5 books found
A NEW YORK TIMES BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR • An essential new translation of the author’s complete, uncensored diaries—a revelation of the idiosyncrasies and rough edges of one of the twentieth century’s most influential writers. “An invaluable addition to Kafka’s oeuvre.”—The New York Times An essential new translation of Franz Kafka’s complete, uncensored diaries—a revelation of the idiosyncrasies and rough edges of one of the twentieth century’s most important, influential, and visionary writers Dating from 1909 to 1923, Franz Kafka’s Diaries contains a broad array of writing, including accounts of daily events, assorted reflections and observations, literary sketches, drafts of letters, records of dreams, and unrevised texts of stories. This volume makes available for the first time in English a comprehensive reconstruction of Kafka’s handwritten diary entries and provides substantial new content, restoring all the material omitted from previous publications—notably, names of people and undisguised details about them, a number of literary writings, and passages of a sexual nature, some of them with homoerotic overtones. By faithfully reproducing the diaries’ distinctive— and often surprisingly unpolished—writing as it appeared in Kafka’s notebooks, translator Ross Benjamin brings to light not only the author’s use of the diaries for literary invention and unsparing self-examination but also their value as a work of genius in and of themselves.
"Brings together, for the first time in English, Kafka's most interesting professional writings, composed during his years as a high-ranking lawyer with the largest Workmen's Accident Insurance Institute in the Czech Lands of the Austro-Hungarian Empire"--Publisher marketing.
This essential collection of Franz Kafka's writings includes classic as well as new translations: "The Metamorphosis" "The Judgment" "A Country Doctor "In the Penal Colony" From A Hunger Artist ("First Sorrow," "A Little Woman," "A Hunger Artist," "Josephine, the Singer; or, The Mouse People") "The Hunter Gracchus" "The Great Wall of China" "Letter to His Father">
A Hunger Artist is a thought-provoking short story by Franz Kafka that delves into themes of isolation, alienation, and the pursuit of personal authenticity. The narrative revolves around the enigmatic figure of the hunger artist, a performer whose artistry lies in his ability to endure prolonged fasting as a form of public spectacle. Set against the backdrop of a carnival-like atmosphere, the story follows the hunger artist as he engages in his extreme performances, captivating audiences with his self-imposed starvation. Despite his dedication to his craft, the hunger artist finds himself increasingly marginalized and misunderstood in a society that values spectacle over substance. As the story unfolds, the hunger artist grapples with his own existential crisis, longing for recognition and validation of his artistry in a world that seems indifferent to his suffering. Through his interactions with spectators, promoters, and admirers, Kafka explores the complexities of artistic expression, the fickleness of public opinion, and the inherent contradictions of human nature. A Hunger Artist is a poignant exploration of the tension between the individual s quest for authenticity and society s demands for conformity. With its stark imagery, introspective narrative, and existential themes, Kafka s tale challenges readers to confront their own assumptions about art, identity, and the pursuit of meaning in a world fraught with disillusionment and uncertainty.