Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka published little of his work in his lifetime, only after his death in 1924 was the greater bulk of his literature brought to the public domain. Kafka entrusted his work to his close friend Max Brod, whom he instructed to destroy all unpublished works, but Brod considered the work to be too important to follow Kafka’s wishes and so set about preparing it for publication.

Born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, in 1883, Franz Kafka has since become revered world wide as one of the great literary contributors of our time: His work is noted for its absurdity and lack of a defined point, which ironically is most certainly the reason for its appeal.

Though Kafka is claimed to have said he did not wish his work to be interpreted, such a wish could never be granted… for surely any work that leaves the reader in a state of pure contemplation will only inspire an overwhelming curiosity to find answers!  

Michael Major

For most of my life I had been blissfully unaware of Franz Kafka’s literature, much less its literary significance or the high regard it commands. My introduction to his work came purely by chance, when a dear friend outlined one of his more notable works ‘Before The Law’ to me… and from that moment I was drawn into the intrigue of his style.

Kafka’s mysterious and somewhat confusing prose forced me to contemplate the story and its relevance not only to the characters within, but also to Kafka’s life and myself!  

The Book

I have come to think of my experience of Kafka’s work as my journeys of discovery: For I hope to have gained through my interpretations a greater understanding of the man himself, of his work, of the world in which he lived, and through this, of the world in which I live, my own life, and ultimately… myself!

I do not consider my book to provide any definitive answers, nor do I propose to offer the reader a lesson… for I do not believe I have any conclusive solutions to the puzzles that exist within Kafka’s work. I do however prefer to think of this book as an invitation to others… to offer their own contribution; and in so doing, I hope to create an opportunity for all to share their thoughts on Kafka as I have shared mine.