Author
Franz Kafka
1883-1924
Franz Kafka (1883-1924) is a public-domain author available on Rivro. Read free books, explore subjects, and discover related classics.
Subjects
Books by Franz Kafka
Metamorphosis
"Metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka is a novella published in 1915. It tells the story of Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman who wakes one morning to find himself inexplicably transformed into a monstrous insect. Trapped in his room and unable to work, Gregor struggles to adjust to his new body while his horrified family grapples with the burden of his existence. As Gregor adapts to his condition, the relationships within his household shift in unexpected and devastating ways.
Die Verwandlung
"Die Verwandlung" by Franz Kafka is a novella written in 1912. The story follows Gregor Samsa, who wakes one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect. Unable to work and communicate, he becomes increasingly isolated from his family, who must now support themselves financially. As Gregor adapts to his new form, his relationships deteriorate and his family grows resentful of his presence. The narrative explores his struggle between his fading humanity and emerging animal instincts.
The Trial
"The Trial" by Franz Kafka is a novel written in 1914 and 1915. It follows Josef K., a bank clerk who is arrested and prosecuted by a mysterious, unreachable authority. Neither he nor the reader ever learns what crime he has committed. As Josef navigates an absurd legal system filled with bizarre encounters and inexplicable procedures, his case consumes his life while remaining perpetually unresolved. The novel, never completed by Kafka, was published posthumously in 1925.
Der Prozess: Roman
"Der Prozess: Roman" by Franz Kafka is a novel written between 1914 and 1915. Josef K., a thirty-year-old bank officer, awakens one morning to find himself arrested for an unspecified crime. Though permitted to continue his daily life, he becomes entangled in an opaque legal system that defies comprehension. As K. encounters lawyers, court painters, and fellow accused, he struggles to understand the charges against him and navigate a labyrinthine bureaucracy where logic seems suspended and truth remains perpetually out of reach.
Das Urteil: Eine Geschichte
"Das Urteil: Eine Geschichte" by Franz Kafka is a novella written in 1912. Georg Bendemann, a successful merchant's son about to marry, writes to his struggling friend in St. Petersburg. When Georg shows the letter to his bedridden father, a shocking confrontation erupts. The father challenges everything Georg believes about his life, his business success, and his fiancée. Their dispute escalates toward a devastating judgment that will force Georg to choose between his father's authority and his own existence.
Ein Landarzt: Kleine Erzählungen
"Ein Landarzt: Kleine Erzählungen" by Franz Kafka is a collection of short stories published in 1920. The title story follows an elderly country doctor summoned on a winter night to treat a gravely ill patient. When his horse dies, mysterious steeds and a threatening stranger appear, propelling him into a nightmarish journey. Torn between professional duty and personal loss, the doctor confronts an incurable wound and hostile villagers. His desperate attempt to return home becomes an endless, freezing ordeal through darkness.
Ein Hungerkünstler
"Ein Hungerkünstler" by Franz Kafka is a short story first published in 1922. It follows a hunger artist who performs his craft in a cage before captivated audiences, fasting for days while spectators watch. Though hunger artistry comes naturally to him, he suffers from profound misunderstanding—his impresario limits his fasts, and audiences doubt his authenticity. As public interest fades, he joins a circus, where he continues his art in obscurity. The story explores the isolation of the artist and the unbridgeable gap between creator and audience.
In der Strafkolonie
"In der Strafkolonie" by Franz Kafka is a story written in October 1914 and published in 1919. A traveling researcher visits a remote penal colony where he witnesses an elaborate execution machine designed by the former commandant. The apparatus tortures condemned prisoners for hours by inscribing their violated commandment into their flesh. As the officer demonstrates this brutal justice system, he seeks the researcher's support to preserve it against growing opposition. The demonstration takes an unexpected turn that leads to the researcher's hasty departure from the island.
Betrachtung
"Betrachtung" by Franz Kafka is a collection of eighteen short stories written between 1904 and 1912. These brief contemplations mark Kafka's first published book, capturing fleeting moments of childhood wonder, social anxiety, sudden awakenings, and the masks people wear. Through unnamed narrators and ambiguous encounters, Kafka explores the tension between innocence and awareness, authenticity and performance. Each miniature tale offers a glimpse into the peculiar consciousness that would define his later work—where ordinary situations reveal unexpected depths of alienation and self-discovery.
El proceso
No description available.
Der Mord
"Der Mord" by Franz Kafka is a short story written in the early 20th century, likely during the 1910s. This book presents a harrowing exploration of violence and morality through the act of murder. It delves into the psyche of the murderer and the immediate aftermath of his crime, showcasing Kafka's signature themes of isolation and existential dread. The narrative begins with Schmar, the murderer, lurking in the shadows, awaiting the arrival of his unsuspecting victim, Wese. As Wese emerges from his office, Schmar launches a brutal attack, stabbing him with a weapon that seems almost to gleam in the moonlight. The story vividly captures the moment of the murder, juxtaposing the physical act with the chaotic reactions of onlookers, including Pallas, a private observer, and Mrs. Wese, who runs to her husband in horror. Through this chilling depiction, Kafka raises questions about human nature, the randomness of violence, and the emotional detachment that can follow such heinous acts. The weight of the murder lingers, provoking disturbing reflections on the meaning of life and death in a cold and indifferent world.
Der Heizer: Ein Fragment
"Der Heizer: Ein Fragment" by Franz Kafka is a short story written in 1913. Sixteen-year-old Karl Rossmann arrives in New York Harbor, banished by his parents after a scandal. While searching for his forgotten umbrella below deck, he encounters a ship's stoker facing unjust dismissal. Karl champions the stoker's cause before the ship's captain, passionately arguing for justice. But an unexpected revelation interrupts the proceedings, forcing Karl to choose between loyalty to his new friend and an unforeseen opportunity that could change his future in America.
Grosser Lärm
"Großer Lärm" by Franz Kafka is an autobiographical prose sketch published in October 1912. The narrator sits in his room, surrounded by slamming doors and his father's storming presence, trapped in what he calls "the headquarters of noise." Unable to demand peace openly, he considers crawling "snake-like" to his sisters to beg for quiet. This brief work captures Kafka's hypersensitivity to his chaotic family household, which he described as publicly punishing his family through literature.