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Franz Kafka: Man Out of Step
b/w illustrations, softening to head of spine, dust spotting to top of page block, text clean and tight
183 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1973
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 17, 2017
A biography, published in 1973. July 3, 1883-- June 3, 1924 He was 40 years old and died of tuberculosis.
Franz (Amshel) Kafka was a slight child to his fairly robust father's Hermann's embarrassment. Julie Kafka endeavored to mediate between them, but Hermann was an authoritarian Jewish parent. He began to stammer. In 1901 he enrolled at Prague university where he became friends with Max Brod.
"Because of the rebuffs and failures of his early life at home and in school, Franz had felt that his mind, in self-protection against further damage to its ego, had turned into what he called 'a frozen sea.'" He had sought for 'an ax' to break into this frozen sea, and found it in writing.
Goethe said: "May none think himself capable of overcoming the first impressions of his childhood."
In 1910 he began a diary which he maintained until his death. He wrote fictionalized, fantastic stories (which would have been transparent to Freud or Poe), but were to say the least, entertaining; they would have made "The Twilight Zone" in the 60s. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1917. Encouraged to write throughout his lifetime by his friend, Max Brod; he was engaged several times(!) to Felice Bauer. He had friendships with Gustav Janouch, and Dora Diamonte. His contemporaries were Picaso, Edison, and Einstein. It is not clear if Mr. Brod destroyed his unpublished works at his death, as he wished. There are perhaps 10 black & white photos included, taken in Czechoslovakia.
Franz (Amshel) Kafka was a slight child to his fairly robust father's Hermann's embarrassment. Julie Kafka endeavored to mediate between them, but Hermann was an authoritarian Jewish parent. He began to stammer. In 1901 he enrolled at Prague university where he became friends with Max Brod.
"Because of the rebuffs and failures of his early life at home and in school, Franz had felt that his mind, in self-protection against further damage to its ego, had turned into what he called 'a frozen sea.'" He had sought for 'an ax' to break into this frozen sea, and found it in writing.
Goethe said: "May none think himself capable of overcoming the first impressions of his childhood."
In 1910 he began a diary which he maintained until his death. He wrote fictionalized, fantastic stories (which would have been transparent to Freud or Poe), but were to say the least, entertaining; they would have made "The Twilight Zone" in the 60s. He was diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1917. Encouraged to write throughout his lifetime by his friend, Max Brod; he was engaged several times(!) to Felice Bauer. He had friendships with Gustav Janouch, and Dora Diamonte. His contemporaries were Picaso, Edison, and Einstein. It is not clear if Mr. Brod destroyed his unpublished works at his death, as he wished. There are perhaps 10 black & white photos included, taken in Czechoslovakia.
June 19, 2013
A brief, mediocre biography that, nevertheless, served its purpose by whetting my appetite for more (perhaps the original Kafka biography written by his friend Max Brod), and inspiring me to finally tackle Kafka’s work.
October 21, 2014
I had read some of Kafka's works, but after reading this, I want to read everything again. I had thought I might not like this biography, but it was certainly worth my time. I feel like I have a better understanding of him and will better understand his works.
For me this was a highlight.
For me this was a highlight.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews