The Cambridge Companion to Kafka

Offers a rounded contemporary appraisal of Central Europe's most distinctive Modernist.

Julian Preece (Edited by)

9780521663915, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 21 February 2002

280 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.6 cm, 0.42 kg

'The Cambridge Companion series is renowned for its well-researched and accessible studies, and this is no exception. … The inclusion of such a wide range of material in this volume makes it an ideal introduction to Kafka's work. The material is presented lucidly, and each contribution takes into account previous reception as well as presenting new readings and interpretations. The volume also benefits from English translations throughout, thus serving an interdisciplinary as well as a Germanist readership.' MLR

Franz Kafka's writing has had a wide-reaching influence on European literature, culture and thought. The Cambridge Companion to Kafka, offers a comprehensive account of his life and work, providing a rounded contemporary appraisal of Central Europe's most distinctive Modernist. Contributions cover all the key texts, and discuss Kafka's writing in a variety of critical contexts such as feminism, deconstruction, psycho-analysis, Marxism, Jewish studies. Other chapters discuss his impact on popular culture and film. The essays are well supported by supplementary material including a chronology of the period and detailed guides to further reading, and will be of interest to students of German, European and Comparative Literature, Jewish Studies.

Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
Chronology
Notes on Contributors
Introduction: Kafka's Europe Julian Preece
1. Kafka's writing and our reading David Constantine
2. A psychoanalytic reading of The Man Who Disappeared Anne Fuchs
3. The exploration of the modern city in The Trial Rolf J. Goebel
4. The Castle Elizabeth Boa
5. Kafka's short fiction Ruth V. Gross
6. Kafka's later stories and aphorisms Stanley Corngold
7. The letters and diaries Julian Preece
8. The case for a political reading Bill Dodd
9. Kafka and Jewish folklore Iris Bruce
10. Kafka and gender Dagmar C. G. Lorenz
11. Myths and realities in Kafka biography Anthony Northey
12. Editions, translations, adaptations Osman Durrani
13. Kafka adapted to film Helen Hughes and Martin Brady
14. Kafka and popular culture Iris Bruce
Index.

Subject Areas: Jewish studies [JFSR1], Literary studies: fiction, novelists & prose writers [DSK]