Kafka’s Son

Szilárd Borbély, a Hungarian poet, was born in 1963. He became one of the most important poets of post-communist Europe, exploring grief, memory, and trauma in his work. After the murder of his mother and the breakdown of his father, Borbély suffered from post-traumatic depression and tragically ended his own life in 2014. Among his manuscripts was Kafkas Son, a fragmentary work that reflects on the fragmented lives of Franz Kafka and his father. The book is an indirect telling of the story of Borbély and his father, and of sons and fathers in the Habsburg empire and the culture of brutality that defined Eastern Europe.

Format: Hardback
Length: 184 pages
Publication date: 26 January 2024
Publisher: Seagull Books London Ltd

Szilárd Borbély, a prominent poet of post-communist Europe, was born in 1963. His critically acclaimed work delved into themes of grief, memory, and trauma, reflecting the complexities of life after the fall of communism. Tragically, Borbély's life was marked by personal tragedy. In 2000, he lost his mother in a burglary, and shortly after, his father passed away due to a breakdown. The loss and trauma inflicted upon him led to post-traumatic depression, ultimately resulting in his tragic end in 2014.

Among the manuscripts that Borbély left behind was Kafkas Son, a fragmentary work that became even more fragmented with his passing. Through a series of haunting passages that explore early twentieth-century Prague, including the ruins of the ancient Jewish ghetto during its demolition, Borbély inscribes the story of Franz Kafka and his father onto the city. In this work, we hear not only from Franz but also from Hermann Kafka, who offers profound insights into the relationship between father and son. He states, "The son is the life of the father. The father is the death of the son." By extension, Kafkas Son becomes an indirect telling of Borbély's own story and the story of sons and fathers in the Habsburg empire and the culture of brutality that defined Eastern Europe.

Ottilie Mulzet's award-winning translation of Kafkas Son brings this masterpiece to English readers, offering a sensitive and iridescent translation that invites us to reflect on our fragmented lives. Borbély's words resonate with profound depth, offering a glimpse into the complexities of human experience and the enduring power of storytelling. Through Kafkas Son, we are reminded of the importance of acknowledging our past, embracing our memories, and finding meaning in the present.

Weight: 418g
Dimension: 160 x 237 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803092683