Kafka's novels and stories fascinate readers and critics of each generation. Although all theories attempt to appropriate Kafka, there is no one key to his work. This work aims to present a point of view while taking account of previous Kafka research.

In the first book to study Franz Kafka from the perspective of modern rhetorical theory, Clayton Koelb explores such questions as how Kafka understood the reading process, how he thematized the problematic of reading, and how his highly distinctive style relates to what Koelb describes as the "passion of reading."

Ever since its literary coinage in Jean Paul's novel, Siebenkäs (1796), the concept of Doppelgänger has had significant influence upon representations of the self in German literature. This study charts the development of the double from its origins in the Romantic period, through its more marginal - but nonetheless significant - manifestations in the post-Romantic culture, to its revival at the fin-de-siècle and transfer to the silent screen. The book features an introduction to the practice and theory underlying the use of the Doppelgänger, with particular reference to psychoanalysis, followed by chapters on Jean Paul, Hoffmann, Kleist, poetic realism (Droste-Hülshoff, Keller, Storm) and modernism (Kafka, Rilke, Hoffmannsthal, Schnitzler, Meyrink, Werfal). This study shows that the often underestimated figure of the double may provide a key to the epistomological, aesthetic and psychosexual structures of the texts it visits and revisits, with a particular focus on its effects in the fields of vision and language.

The complete stories of one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century, the author of The Metamorphosis and The Trial. “An important book, valuable in itself and absolutely fascinating. The stories are dreamlike, allegorical, symbolic, parabolic, grotesque, ritualistic, nasty, lucent, extremely personal, ghoulishly detached, exquisitely comic, numinous, and prophetic.” —The New York Times The Complete Stories brings together all of Kafka’s stories, from the classic tales such as “The Metamorphosis,” “In the Penal Colony,” and “A Hunger Artist” to shorter pieces and fragments that Max Brod, Kafka’s literary executor, released after Kafka’s death. With the exception of his three novels, the whole of Kafka’s narrative work is included in this volume. “[Kafka] spoke for millions in their new unease; a century after his birth, he seems the last holy writer, and the supreme fabulist of modern man’s cosmic predicament.” —from the Foreword by John Updike

The nation-state is a European invention of the 18th and 19th centuries. In the case of the German nation in particular, this invention was tied closely to the idea of a homogeneous German culture with a strong normative function. As a consequence, histories of German culture and literature often are told from the inside-as the unfolding of a canon of works representing certain core values, with which every person who considers him or herself “German” necessarily must identify. But what happens if we describe German culture and its history from the outside? And as something heterogeneous, shaped by multiple and diverse sources, many of which are not obviously connected to things traditionally considered “German”? Emphasizing current issues of migration, displacement, systemic injustice, and belonging, Germany from the Outside explores new opportunities for understanding and shaping community at a time when many are questioning the ability of cultural practices to effect structural change. Located at the nexus of cultural, political, historiographical, and philosophical discourses, the essays in this volume inform discussions about next directions for German Studies and for the Humanities in a fraught era.

The Myth of Power and the Self brings together Walter Sokel's most significant essays on Kafka written over a period of thirty-one years, 1966-1997. Franz Kafka (1883-1924) has come to be one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century. The Myth of Power and the Self brings together Walter Sokel's most significant essays on Kafka written over a period of thirty-one years, 1966-1997. This volume begins with a discussion of Sokel's 1966 pamphlet on Kafka and a summary of his 1964 book, Tragik und Ironie (Tragedy and Irony), which has never been translated into English, and includes several essays published in English for the first time. Sokel places Kafka's writings in a very large cultural context by fusing Freudian and Expressionist perspectives and incorporating more theoretical approaches--linguistic theory, Gnosticism, and aspects of Derrida--into his synthesis. This superb collection of essays by one of the most qualified Kafka scholars today will bring new understanding to Kafka's work and will be of interest to literary critics, intellectual historians, and students and scholars of German literature and Kafka.

So, what's the best way to learn German? Probably the most entertaining way to learn German is by reading humorous and culturally relevant novels for beginners in German. In this book we have compiled 25 easy-to-read modern and humorous German stories for beginners that will allow you to improve your German reading skills, it comes with additional readings of 5 classic tales from famous 19th-century authors including Thomas Mann, Franz Kafka, Stefan Zweig, and Arthur Schnitzler. The first 20 German short stories for beginners are not only suitable for language learners, but also for those who care about good literature. This German learning book has been written by a native German and is recommended for A2+ level learners. Each story is culturally relevant and entertaining with realistic dialogues and day-to-day situations. (German stories for beginners - German edition volume 1 in German) Abenteuer in der Sauna - Adventures in the sauna Eine religiöse Familie - A religious family Crowdfunding für eine neue Küche - Crowdfunding for a new kitchen Die alte Trinkerin - The old drunkard Wie man einen Millionär auf einer Kreuzfahrt findet - How to find a millionaire on a cruise trip Der Grillabend - The barbecue evening Import & Export in Deutschland - Imports & exports in Germany Ein Besuch aus Amerika - A visit from America Der Einsiedler - The hermit Der Schatz im Wald - The treasure in the woods München ist auch eine schöne Stadt - Munich is a beautiful city too Der Schrebergarten - The allotment garden Der Käse stinkt von allen Seiten - The cheese stinks from all sides Der Flüchtling aus Fernost - The refugee from the Far East Eine endgültige Abmahnung - A final warning Studententreffen - Student meeting Au Pair in England - Au Pair in England Der Kunsthändler - The art dealer Der Klub - The club Ein Michelin Stern ist nicht genug - One Michelin star is not enough Klassische Novelle: Ein Landarzt von Franz Kafka Klassische Novelle: Ein Traum von Franz Kafka Klassische Novelle: Die griechische Tänzerin von A. Schnitzler Klassische Novelle: Die Wanderung von Stefan Zweig Klassische Novelle: Schwere Stunde von Thomas Mann There are not too many German books that can offer fiction, romance, mystical and suspense stories in one collection, but this one has it all! So, if you want to improve your German for reading knowledge, pick up your copy now and start learning the German language today! GERMAN SHORT STORIES The Stories and their value as teaching tools The benefits of extensive reading when learning German German Short stories for beginners and intermediate level - What to expect What can be done if you don’t understand something? What you need to know about German classic short stories 1. Abenteuer in der Sauna - Adventures in the sauna 2. Eine religiöse Familie - A religious family 3. Crowdfunding für eine neue Küche - Crowdfunding for a new kitchen 4. Die alte Trinkerin - The old drunkard 5. Wie man einen Millionär auf einer Kreuzfahrt findet - How to find a millionaire on a cruise trip 6. Der Grillabend - The barbecue evening 7. Import & Export - Imports & exports 8. Ein Besuch aus Amerika - A visit from America 9. Der Einsiedler - The hermit 10. Der Schatz im Wald - The treasure in the woods 11. München ist auch eine schöne Stadt - Munich is a beautiful city too 12. Der Schrebergarten - The allotment garden 13. Der Käse stinkt von allen Seiten - The cheese stinks from all sides 14. Der Flüchtling aus Fernost - The refugee from the Far East 15. Eine endgültige Abmahnung - A final warning 16. Studententreffen - Student meeting 17. Aupair in England - Aupair in England 18. Der historische Kunsthändler - The historic art dealer 19. Der Club - The club 20. Ein Michelin Stern ist nicht genug - One Michelin star is not enough 21. Klassische Novelle: Ein Landarzt von Franz Kafka 22 . Klassische Novelle: Ein Traum von Franz Kafka 23. Klassische Novelle: Die griechische Tänzerin von A. Schnitzler 24. Klassische Novelle: Die Wanderung von Stefan Zweig 25. Klassische Novelle: Schwere Stunde von Thomas Mann

Known for depicting alienation, frustration, and the victimization of the individual by impenetrable bureaucracies, Kafka's works have given rise to the term Kafkaesque. This encyclopedia details Kafka's life and writings. Included are more than 800 alphabetically arranged entries on his works, characters, family members and acquaintances, themes, and other topics. Most of the entries cite works for further reading, and the Encyclopedia closes with a selected, general bibliography.