Excellent introduction to Kafka unique style

books:

	• The Complete Stories Franz Kafka Schocken, 1995 - 512 pages average customer review:based on 44 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A Treasure of Madness

Kafka is still "the rage," one supposes, but it is hard to see how, now that he has become an icon. This is a fabulous collection. Updike is right that these stories are excellent. Kafka has had enormous influence on modern fiction. He may be one of a handful of highly important authors. Reading him today is especially interesting; you would think these stories had been written the day before yesterday. Kafka's subject, which is something like 'the estrangement of the soul and modern man's quest for hope in a hopeless universe' sounds awfully familiar.The truth is that little else has been said to expand on Kafka's central insight into modern man's spiritual dilemma. "There is hope, but not for us." Kafka, rather like Poe, writes creepy tales. That his world is ours is the magic of his genius. Yes, we've been there alright, but we cannot explain how it happened. We can, as they say, relate...to Kafka's narratives of anxiety, helplessness, and fear.

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The best place to start with Kafka.

The best place to start with Kafka is with his short stories, and here we have all of his stories, published and unpublished, complete and incomplete, in one volume. The longer ones include masterpieces such as The Metamorphosis, In the Penal Colony, and A Hunger Artist. Also included are 2 short introductory parables, Before the Law, and An Imperial Message, which perfectly set the tone for what is to follow.

Kafka's troubled life can obviously be used as a reference point for his literature, but the stories stand alone as surrealistic, often humorous, unique, and concise yet complex explorations or examinations of the human condition. The 1st line in the postscript mentions Albert Camus remarking that the whole art of Kafka consists in compelling the reader to re-read him. It's an astute observation, and when put into practice, reveals the true worth of Kafka's work. It's ability to continually ask more profound questions of us, rather than give pat answers or provide facile solutions to the riddles and dilemmas we all face in life to varying degrees.

John Updike provides an illuminating intro and the Muir's translations are excellent.

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Excellent introduction to Kafka unique style

Most of the stroies are gems.
Kafka's unique style lies with the way he uses the language - he manages in bringing the reader to the darkest corners of the psyche using a matter-of-fact, almost bland collection of allegedly objective observations on his protagonists' emotions, thoughts and behaviours. These protagonists are sometimes human beings but some are neither human nor animals...One could call them Kafka imagination's progeny.
The reason I give it only 4 stars is because some of the stories are bordering on ...boring. I guess the reason in having them in this edition is in order to be able to call it 'The Complete Stories'.
Thus - if you are ready to accept some less than stellar writing, you'll be rewarded in most of the book by an extraordinary style and truly 'kafkaesque' ideas.

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Complete????????????

If this is the "COMPLETE" version of his stories why don't I see The Trial and The Castle listed? Seems "complete", as in "free", has a whole new definition these days. Buyer take note!

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

The only available collection that brings together all of Kafka's stories--those published during his lifetime and those released after his death.

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