Jul 3, 2024
Kafka, a man famous in literary circles, is one who got fame late in life. Kafka suffered greatly when it came to relationships, be it with his father or with his love Milena, and it was this angst and (temporary) love that led to many books, letters, and works.
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Kafka was born on July 3, 1883, and died on June 3, 1924, leaving behind a legacy of work. Here we mention some of his most admired works and how to read them in the right order.
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‘The Trial’ tells the story of Josef K., a man who is unexpectedly arrested by mysterious agents for an unspecified crime. Throughout the novel, Josef tries to get out of a confusing and nightmarish legal system. The worst part? He never learns what he is accused of!
Penguin-Modern-Classics
The next in line should be ‘Amerika’, popularly known as ‘The Man Who Disappeared’. It is the story of Karl, a young European in America who is sent there by his parents after a scandal. The novel is about Karl's experiences as he lives in the hostile environment of the US.
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Kafka’s father was a strict, rigid man, to whom the artistic abilities of men were of no use or importance. His disdain for Kafka’s artistic pursuits was what led to turmoil in his relationships but also gave birth to many works about the nature of man.
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One of his most famous works, ‘Metamorphosis’ is the story of Gregor Samsa who wakes up one day to find himself converted into an insect. As the sole earner of the family, while the family takes care of him initially, after a while he is left in isolation and disappointment.
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Another very famous book by Kafka comes in the form of his ‘Letters to Milena’. Milena was Kafka’s love affair who he thought understood him like no other! Kafka wrote for Milena that she was ‘a living fire, such as I have never seen.’
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Kafka’s works were filled with angst, misery, themes of isolation, anxiety, etc. But things like these were not talked about, neither were they read. And today with people being more open about troubled relationships, people see Kafka as a messiah who wrote how to deal with it!
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‘Bookstagram’ and ‘BookTok’ really made Kafka famous with lines and quotes from his letters to his father and Milena. He was hailed as an ideal lover and outspoken son who went against his father’s abuse. And through these mediums began a new era for Kafka and Kafka-esque.
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