Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka (1883-1924) was a seminal German-speaking Bohemian writer whose works became cornerstones of 20th-century literature. Born in Prague, Kafka authored "The Metamorphosis" (1915), a novella that explores themes of alienation and existential dread through the transformation of Gregor Samsa into a giant insect. His unfinished novel "The Trial" (1925), published posthumously, delves into the absurdity and oppression of an opaque legal system. Kafka also penned "The Castle" (1926), another posthumous publication, which portrays a man's futile attempts to gain access to enigmatic authorities. Despite his relatively small body of work produced during his short life, Kafka's unique narrative style and profound themes distinguish him as a pivotal figure in modernist literature.