Selected Stories

A beautiful new translation of Kafka's classic stories, expertly annotated and illustrated. Mark Harman's Selected Stories offers the most sensitive English rendering of Franz Kafka's unique German prose, with an in-depth biographical introduction and notes illuminating the stories and placing them in context. Included are sixteen stories, arranged chronologically to convey a sense of Kafka's artistic development, and annotations highlight the wordplay and cultural allusions of the original German. Harman also draws on Kafka's diaries, correspondence, and engagement with early twentieth-century debates to construct a rich portrait of Kafka in his world.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 21 May 2024
Publisher: Harvard University Press

Franz Kafka, one of the most influential and enigmatic writers of the twentieth century, is celebrated in this magnificent collection of his finest short stories. Award-winning translator and scholar Mark Harman offers the most sensitive English rendering yet of Kafka's unique German prose, capturing the essence of his enigmatic and often surrealistic world.

Arranged chronologically, the stories in this collection provide a sense of Kafka's artistic development, from his early experiments with form and language to his later masterpieces. Some of the most celebrated works in the collection include "The Judgment," "In the Penal Colony," "A Hunger Artist," and "The Transformation," which have become iconic in the literary world.

Harman's meticulous translation and comprehensive annotations bring new life to these timeless stories, illuminating the wordplay, cultural allusions, and underlying themes that have fascinated readers for generations. He also provides a rich biographical introduction that sheds light on Kafka's life and work, exploring his relationships with his contemporaries, his struggles with illness and poverty, and his profound influence on modern literature.

In addition to the stories themselves, Harman's notes and annotations offer a wealth of insight and interpretation, helping readers to understand the complex and often enigmatic world of Kafka. Whether you are a seasoned Kafka scholar or a newcomer to his work, this collection is a must-read for anyone who seeks to explore the depth and beauty of his writing.

Selected Stories is a testament to Kafka's enduring legacy and his ability to capture the essence of the human condition in his unique and powerful prose. It is a work of both art and scholarship that will continue to inspire and intrigue readers for generations to come.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 223 x 148 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780674737983