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Short Stories by Franz Kafka
This volume contains all of Kafka's shorter fiction, from fragments, parables and sketches to longer tales. Together they reveal the breadth of Kafka's literary vision and the extraordinary imaginative depth of his thought. Some are well-known, others are mere jottings, observations of daily life, given artistic form through Kafka's unique perception of the world.
336 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2013
51 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Franz Kafka
3,261 books38k followersPrague-born writer Franz Kafka wrote in German, and his stories, such as "
The Metamorphosis
" (1916), and posthumously published novels, including
The Trial
(1925), concern troubled individuals in a nightmarishly impersonal world.
Jewish middle-class family of this major fiction writer of the 20th century spoke German. People consider his unique body of much incomplete writing, mainly published posthumously, among the most influential in European literature.
His stories include "The Metamorphosis" (1912) and " In the Penal Colony " (1914), whereas his posthumous novels include The Trial (1925), The Castle (1926) and Amerika (1927).
Despite first language, Kafka also spoke fluent Czech. Later, Kafka acquired some knowledge of the French language and culture from Flaubert, one of his favorite authors.
Kafka first studied chemistry at the Charles-Ferdinand University of Prague but after two weeks switched to law. This study offered a range of career possibilities, which pleased his father, and required a longer course of study that gave Kafka time to take classes in German studies and art history. At the university, he joined a student club, named Lese- und Redehalle der Deutschen Studenten, which organized literary events, readings, and other activities. In the end of his first year of studies, he met Max Brod, a close friend of his throughout his life, together with the journalist Felix Weltsch, who also studied law. Kafka obtained the degree of doctor of law on 18 June 1906 and performed an obligatory year of unpaid service as law clerk for the civil and criminal courts.
Writing of Kafka attracted little attention before his death. During his lifetime, he published only a few short stories and never finished any of his novels except the very short "The Metamorphosis." Kafka wrote to Max Brod, his friend and literary executor: "Dearest Max, my last request: Everything I leave behind me ... in the way of diaries, manuscripts, letters (my own and others'), sketches, and so on, [is] to be burned unread." Brod told Kafka that he intended not to honor these wishes, but Kafka, so knowing, nevertheless consequently gave these directions specifically to Brod, who, so reasoning, overrode these wishes. Brod in fact oversaw the publication of most of work of Kafka in his possession; these works quickly began to attract attention and high critical regard.
Max Brod encountered significant difficulty in compiling notebooks of Kafka into any chronological order as Kafka started writing in the middle of notebooks, from the last towards the first, et cetera.
Kafka wrote all his published works in German except several letters in Czech to Milena Jesenská.
Jewish middle-class family of this major fiction writer of the 20th century spoke German. People consider his unique body of much incomplete writing, mainly published posthumously, among the most influential in European literature.
His stories include "The Metamorphosis" (1912) and " In the Penal Colony " (1914), whereas his posthumous novels include The Trial (1925), The Castle (1926) and Amerika (1927).
Despite first language, Kafka also spoke fluent Czech. Later, Kafka acquired some knowledge of the French language and culture from Flaubert, one of his favorite authors.
Kafka first studied chemistry at the Charles-Ferdinand University of Prague but after two weeks switched to law. This study offered a range of career possibilities, which pleased his father, and required a longer course of study that gave Kafka time to take classes in German studies and art history. At the university, he joined a student club, named Lese- und Redehalle der Deutschen Studenten, which organized literary events, readings, and other activities. In the end of his first year of studies, he met Max Brod, a close friend of his throughout his life, together with the journalist Felix Weltsch, who also studied law. Kafka obtained the degree of doctor of law on 18 June 1906 and performed an obligatory year of unpaid service as law clerk for the civil and criminal courts.
Writing of Kafka attracted little attention before his death. During his lifetime, he published only a few short stories and never finished any of his novels except the very short "The Metamorphosis." Kafka wrote to Max Brod, his friend and literary executor: "Dearest Max, my last request: Everything I leave behind me ... in the way of diaries, manuscripts, letters (my own and others'), sketches, and so on, [is] to be burned unread." Brod told Kafka that he intended not to honor these wishes, but Kafka, so knowing, nevertheless consequently gave these directions specifically to Brod, who, so reasoning, overrode these wishes. Brod in fact oversaw the publication of most of work of Kafka in his possession; these works quickly began to attract attention and high critical regard.
Max Brod encountered significant difficulty in compiling notebooks of Kafka into any chronological order as Kafka started writing in the middle of notebooks, from the last towards the first, et cetera.
Kafka wrote all his published works in German except several letters in Czech to Milena Jesenská.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 13, 2020
Kafka is deep. He is an author who definitely saw the times as nasty and devastated. He had his own personal issues in life which he had potrayed in his stories. His stories are extremely psychological, philosophical and existential. To be honest there are stories like The Judgement, A Fratricide, A Country Doctor which I had to read twice to understand whether I am going in a right track or whether I have read the story properly or not. By reading his stories you will be able to understand that the term Kafkaesque is absolutely true.
July 19, 2023
'Why do I not do as others: live in harmony with my people and accept in silence whatever disturbs the harmony, ignoring it as a small error in the great account.'
There is a reason one starts to read books like these. One needs to find something. What is that 'something'? Is it sense, meaning, or a purpose? One doesn't succeed in articulating precisely what they are trying to find. But of course, there is some kind of seeking by the reader. Not even the neighbour understands it.
While the person seeks 'something' through these books, travelling within the tiny understandable parts of heavily translated paragraphs, they encounter questions that interrogate the nuances of their existence. The reader then goes behind the questions but gets lost within the complex process of seeking. They become confused with life and are no longer able to distinguish between meanings. This, according to me, is called 'Existentialism'.
Franz Kafka is my first detailed study into the concept of existentialism. Although I knew about other writers such as Nietzsche, Camus, Kierkegaard, and Kant, I couldn't pick up one full book and read it. There could be a reason for me not doing so. I read 'Notes from Underground' two months ago, and regardless of the translation and its style, I found it very difficult to digest the concepts of the first half of the book. The distant aspects of human feelings, which most people do not even bother to think about, have been intricately laid out in that book. Only when we read such lines do we start thinking about those concepts. Anyhow, the second part of that book made some things simpler for me to understand.
But Kafka is a completely different game. I had read 'Metamorphosis' last year as a standalone book, and this book has 'Metamorphosis' as one of its stories. Trust me, it is the only story I'm able to understand and appreciate. The rest of them, well, I don't know how many rereads they are begging for.
'The Hunger Artist' is one more story that felt thought-provoking. It speaks about a person who, unable or disagreeing to go by the norms of society, rejects its norms, tries to live by their own rules, and gets stamped mercilessly. It speaks about how the unnecessary rules and norms of society throttle a free mind.
'In the Penal Colony' speaks about authoritarianism and people's refusal to accept a new regime, even though it serves their well-being. That is one of the extensively discussed concepts all across the world, well put into a story.
There were some more stories. Each one impressed me, but none could hold my hand in the vast sea of long German sentences, ill-humoured metaphors, and sloppy translations (sometimes). I truly felt what 'Kafkaesque' really meant. As previously stated, it may be necessary for me to revisit these stories in an iterative manner.
This was a long-awaited end. I really waited to read works with existential themes, and I am glad I had Kafka as my first writer to read. His deep insights about human life and society have made our understanding of life easier. His 'Kafkaesque' writings have successfully put down words on paper for the same feelings that millions have felt, but could never give them form with words.
This book is definitely on my reread list, but for now, I am giving it only three stars. If I feel better during rereads, I will come and change my ratings.
There is a reason one starts to read books like these. One needs to find something. What is that 'something'? Is it sense, meaning, or a purpose? One doesn't succeed in articulating precisely what they are trying to find. But of course, there is some kind of seeking by the reader. Not even the neighbour understands it.
While the person seeks 'something' through these books, travelling within the tiny understandable parts of heavily translated paragraphs, they encounter questions that interrogate the nuances of their existence. The reader then goes behind the questions but gets lost within the complex process of seeking. They become confused with life and are no longer able to distinguish between meanings. This, according to me, is called 'Existentialism'.
Franz Kafka is my first detailed study into the concept of existentialism. Although I knew about other writers such as Nietzsche, Camus, Kierkegaard, and Kant, I couldn't pick up one full book and read it. There could be a reason for me not doing so. I read 'Notes from Underground' two months ago, and regardless of the translation and its style, I found it very difficult to digest the concepts of the first half of the book. The distant aspects of human feelings, which most people do not even bother to think about, have been intricately laid out in that book. Only when we read such lines do we start thinking about those concepts. Anyhow, the second part of that book made some things simpler for me to understand.
But Kafka is a completely different game. I had read 'Metamorphosis' last year as a standalone book, and this book has 'Metamorphosis' as one of its stories. Trust me, it is the only story I'm able to understand and appreciate. The rest of them, well, I don't know how many rereads they are begging for.
'The Hunger Artist' is one more story that felt thought-provoking. It speaks about a person who, unable or disagreeing to go by the norms of society, rejects its norms, tries to live by their own rules, and gets stamped mercilessly. It speaks about how the unnecessary rules and norms of society throttle a free mind.
'In the Penal Colony' speaks about authoritarianism and people's refusal to accept a new regime, even though it serves their well-being. That is one of the extensively discussed concepts all across the world, well put into a story.
There were some more stories. Each one impressed me, but none could hold my hand in the vast sea of long German sentences, ill-humoured metaphors, and sloppy translations (sometimes). I truly felt what 'Kafkaesque' really meant. As previously stated, it may be necessary for me to revisit these stories in an iterative manner.
This was a long-awaited end. I really waited to read works with existential themes, and I am glad I had Kafka as my first writer to read. His deep insights about human life and society have made our understanding of life easier. His 'Kafkaesque' writings have successfully put down words on paper for the same feelings that millions have felt, but could never give them form with words.
This book is definitely on my reread list, but for now, I am giving it only three stars. If I feel better during rereads, I will come and change my ratings.
October 2, 2022
Metamorphosis was one of its kind. A perfect example of human being letting loose his/her imagination free. The story hints on the reality of the near and dear ones too are at the end of the day, fair weather friends only. A reality only old age brings in one. The stories on the dog and the burrow , God knows, other than the fabulous language being used, what purpose it was written for. Or is the translation to be blamed? Many a time, we see the classical touch of the classics being devoured of the same by some low quality translators. I have read MT Vasudevan Nair's randamoozham, which lose its sheen in its English translation Bheem.
I liked Great Wall of China, a story in accordance with the decline of the British.
I liked Great Wall of China, a story in accordance with the decline of the British.
June 3, 2021
15 short stories - I have read most of them. My first book by Franz Kafka and I just find the writing super absurd, weird, and filled with irrelevant random details. Although there are a few great lines, it's hard reading the entire thing!
December 13, 2024
Absolutely loved Metamorphosis, the story touched my heart in so many ways. Burrow and Investigations of a Dog feel ever so slightly drawn out which made me put down the book a few times and try again later. Every story had such a fresh perspective on life, and was so enjoyable to read!
June 29, 2019
Metamorphosis is not the only story written from the perspective of a human being. Kafka writes from unusually different points of view. Dostoevsky seems to have a huge impact on him.
August 11, 2019
All of his stories have a kind of universal nature(in a good way).
December 25, 2019
I have to say, He has the wildest imagination ever!!
December 10, 2021
Deeply intriguing. This collection is the most philosophically accounted tell a tale series of stories which can only come from a genius like Franz Kafka.
June 15, 2014
Its Kafka... who am I to review Kafka...:)
This simple paper back has a few of the well known short stories by him including Metamorphosis and Penal colony. It also include an intriguing piece titled the 'Great wall of china'
This simple paper back has a few of the well known short stories by him including Metamorphosis and Penal colony. It also include an intriguing piece titled the 'Great wall of china'
October 2, 2017
Kafka is the reason I began reading Russian authors. His writing has charm of interpretations. His metaphorical uses of words and even entire stories reflects a lot upon the person who is reading it. One gets to know about himself by reading him.
June 15, 2015
What a writer!!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews