Kafka's Trial: The case against Josef K

by Eric Lawson Marson, Eric Marson, J.M. Marshall

353 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a body of literature I read because the books are recognized classics, and I feel I should know these books. This one falls into that category. It's interesting and frustrating at the same time, not to mention symbolic and philosophical. The plot is about a man who is accused of a crime, but never told what that crime is. He has to defend himself and shuttle through various bureaucratic offices of an unknown government. The book evokes bureaucracy and totalitarianism, and in that it is very much ahead of its time. Everyone has experienced some of the setups Kafka describes. But the book is also very strange. If you have a bent for philosophy or politics, you'd probably like this. It's not long, but not what I would call an easy read either. Compare with Albert Camus' "The Stranger."