Synopses & Reviews
Although Franz Kafka (1883and#150;1924) completed only a small number of works in his lifetime, perhaps no other author has had a greater influence on twentieth-century consciousness. This engrossing biography of the Czech novelist and short-story writer emphasizes the cultural and historical contexts of his fiction and focuses for the first time on his complex relationship with his father.
Nicholas Murray paints a picture of Kafkaand#8217;s German-speaking Jewish family and the Prague mercantile bourgeoisie to which they belonged. He describes Kafkaand#8217;s demanding professional career, his ill health, and the constantly receding prospects of a marriage he craved. He analyzes Kafkaand#8217;s poor relationship with his father, Hermann, which found its most eloquent expression in Kafkaand#8217;s story and#147;The Judgement,and#8221; about a father who condemns his son to death by drowning. And he asserts that the unsettling flavor of Kafkaand#8217;s booksand#151;stories suffused with guilt and frustrationand#151;derives from his sense of living in a mysteriously antagonistic world, of being a criminal without having knowingly committed a crime.
Compelling and empathetic, this book sheds new light on a man of unique genius and on his enigmatic works.
Review
“[A] rich new biography.”—John Leonard,
Harpers MagazineReview
"This book is the most accessible and readable biography of Kafka in English to date. Murray has accomplished quite a feat: to carefully capture the historical and contextual scope of Kafka's literary life, as well as his complex inner and personal life."and#8212;Kathi Diamant, author of
Kafka's Last Love: The Mystery of Dora DiamantReview
and#8220;[A] rich new biography.and#8221;and#8212;John Leonard,
Harperand#8217;s MagazineSynopsis
The definitive biography of the representative writer of our age
Although Franz Kafka (1883-1924) completed only a small number of works in his lifetime, perhaps no other author has had a greater influence on twentieth-century consciousness. This engrossing biography of the Czech novelist and short-story writer emphasizes the cultural and historical contexts of his fiction and focuses for the first time on his complex relationship with his father.
Nicholas Murray paints a picture of Kafka's German-speaking Jewish family and the Prague mercantile bourgeoisie to which they belonged. He describes Kafka's demanding professional career, his ill health, and the constantly receding prospects of a marriage he craved. He analyzes Kafka's poor relationship with his father, Hermann, which found its most eloquent expression in Kafka's story "The Judgement," about a father who condemns his son to death by drowning. And he asserts that the unsettling flavor of Kafka's books--stories suffused with guilt and frustration--derives from his sense of living in a mysteriously antagonistic world, of being a criminal without having knowingly committed a crime.
Compelling and empathetic, this book sheds new light on a man of unique genius and on his enigmatic works.
About the Author
Nicholas Murray is the author of many books, including biographies of Bruce Chatwin, Matthew Arnold, and Aldous Huxley, a book of poetry, and two novels.