Franz Kafka's the Castle

by Harold Bloom (Editor)

Genres: Classics, Literary Criticism, Fiction

159 pages, Library Binding

First published December 1, 1988

About the author

Harold Bloom was an American literary critic and the Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University. In 2017, Bloom was called "probably the most famous literary critic in the English-speaking world." After publishing his first book in 1959, Bloom wrote more than 50 books, including over 40 books of literary criticism, several books discussing religion, and one novel. He edited hundreds of anthologies concerning numerous literary and philosophical figures for the Chelsea House publishing firm. Bloom's books have been translated into more than 40 languages. He was elected to the American Philosophical Society in 1995.
Bloom was a defender of the traditional Western canon at a time when literature departments were focusing on what he derided as the "school of resentment" (multiculturalists, feminists, Marxists, and others). He was educated at Yale University, the University of Cambridge, and Cornell University.

Reviews

[Jay Magidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning, this book was never completed in Kafka's lifetime. I didn't know this, or didn't pay attention when I read it. Then it kind of ended in a weird way, I went back to the description and understood. I was disappointed for some time afterwords. This is one of the strangest disturbing books I've ever read. Its mood is nightmarish, the characters are like ghosts walking in mud. I read it years ago and it still sticks in my head. Amazing writer.

The basic plot is that a solicitor goes to this little town where he must plead his case to the authorities at the castle. He continues to make idiotic mistakes that put him further and further from his goal. He should give up, but continues to try different, crazy approaches. Nightmare is the only word to describe the mood of this brilliant book. Put in your own ending or maybe you are a good enough writer to write one for us. I'd love to read it.

If you are a lover of mood in books as I am, then it doesn't get any better than this.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book felt like a real slog at certain points, but I imagine this was Kafka's intention. The strange characters and bizarre situations worked together well to conjure up the discombobulating feeling of dealing with large bureaucratic organisations, and the slow pace nicely mimics that soul crushing monotony of wading through bureaucracy without any clear sense of when the nonsense will end. A delightfully frustrating read!

[Jakub Srok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like it cause it reflects lifen in already lost fight against death and life and world and everything

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this novel difficult, yet rewarding to read. To me it is an allegorical tale of a man's struggle to gain an understanding of, and communication with, god. The castle represents a higher power that everyone must be subservient to. Those that do question its authority are ostracized from the community. K. spends the entire book struggling to come terms with the many layers of process, or doctrine, that the castle presses on its people. The novel is difficult because understanding all of Kafka's metaphors and hidden meanings requires much analysis and discussion. Kafka spent much of his free time discussing literature with his friends, and perhaps he had this in mind when writing any of his novels. I think they can all be discussed at length, and were perhaps designed to inspire debate and discussion.

[Jose · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could not get into this book. It's a strange story and gets into deeply absurd situations in what may have been authentic social environments in the Europe of early twentieth century. I went through half the story and lost interest. I was also turned off by the fact that Kafka did not finish the story, nor did he want to publish it. Kafka is well known as a critic of society's oppression of the individual. In Castle, the inhabitants of the village show an extreme form of submission and acceptance of a social order in a feudal town. The rulers are invisible and remote, and isolated from the villagers by a class of stiff bureaucrats. All challenges by the newcomer lead to long-winded arguments that lead into even more ridiculous situations.

[Brian Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, surreal and humourous tale about a man who struggles to fight against a strange, illogical system in order to finally make his way into 'The Castle'; an institution he knows as little about as he does anything else. Should be noted that since Kafka died in the middle of his writing, none of his three novels were ever completed. The book cuts off mid-sentence, but for some reason I felt like it actually worked with the overall tone of the book. Not for everyone, but if you get into it you'll love it!

[Samuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfinished novel from the man who dared to criticize the works of James Joyce. Going to have to read some heavy analytical works to get to the bottom of this one. Allegorical definitely. Autistic, possibly? First exposure to David Lynch's favorite author. 'The Trial' is next...then the infamous Metamorphosis.

[laut · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel that the Castle got off to a strong start, but failed to maintain that throughout it's length, as I found the increasingly long monologues given by seemingly every character rather, well, tedious. That said, it's always interesting to read a book where you can guarantee that the main character won't succeed at his goal!

[Kerrie]

I tried to love it. I wanted to like it. I didn't. I couldn't get into it at all and ended up just giving up completely. Sad day.

[Andrea Aramu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read it in Italian.

[Manu · Rating 5 out of 5]

astounding representation of man's agony and helplessness.....