Written in 1919 but never delivered, this long letter by Kafka addresses his father Hermann, a domineering merchant who overwhelmed his sensitive son. Kafka describes his father's physical presence, his harsh sarcasm, his dismissal of Franz's writing and his objections to Kafka's plans to marry. He tries to explain how fear and a sense of inadequacy shaped his character. The letter includes a fictional reply from the father, in which Kafka imagines the counterarguments.
Anyone interested in Kafka's life will find the key to many of his stories here. It is also relevant for readers curious about difficult parent and child relationships, and for those wanting a short, intense, personal text from an author usually known for fiction.
Deep, inward-looking, contemplative and open-ended; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Wisdom Collector. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1995
- Publisher
- Reclam Philipp Jun.
- ISBN
- 9783150096741
- Language
- DE
