Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka (1883-1924) was a German-speaking Bohemian writer whose works have had a profound influence on literature. Born in Prague, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Kafka was the son of a successful, domineering businessman and a deeply religious mother. He studied law at the German University in Prague, earning his degree in 1906. Kafka worked in various roles in the insurance industry, a profession he found stifling but essential for economic stability.

Kafka's literary output, while modest in volume, is monumental in its impact. His surreal and often absurd narratives reflect themes of alienation, existential dread, and the inexorable bureaucracy of modern life. His best-known works include "The Metamorphosis," where a man awakes to find himself transformed into a giant insect, and "The Trial," which chronicles a man's inexplicable and harrowing legal ordeal. Kafka's writing style, marked by its clarity and precision, conveys complex inner states and societal critiques with unsettling ease.

Despite his considerable talents, Kafka published few of his works during his lifetime and instructed his close friend Max Brod to destroy unpublished manuscripts upon his death. Thankfully, Brod disregarded Kafka's wishes, ensuring that Kafka's vital literary legacy would endure, influencing countless writers and thinkers in the 20th century and beyond. Kafka succumbed to tuberculosis at the age of 40, leaving behind a body of work that continues to resonate with audiences worldwide.