Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka (1883–1924) was a German-speaking writer born in Prague, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He is best known for his novels and short stories that explore feelings of fear, isolation, and helplessness in the face of powerful and confusing systems. Kafka’s most famous works include The Metamorphosis, where a man suddenly turns into an insect, and The Trial, which shows a man trapped in a mysterious legal process without explanation. His writing style mixes the ordinary with the strange, creating a dream-like world where readers feel both curious and unsettled. Kafka worked as a lawyer for an insurance company while writing in his free time, often battling illness and self-doubt. Though he published only a few works during his life, his unique voice has made him one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. Today, the word “Kafkaesque” describes situations that are nightmarish and absurd.