Kafka, Franz. The Trial. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1984.
Reason read: Czech Republic is lovely in September. Some say that is the best time to visit.
Where does Franz Kafka get his ideas? Everyone knows Metamorphosis and The Trial is no different. It has been made into theater productions, television shows and movies. Everything Kafka has ever written has been analyzed within an inch of its life so I will not be able to add anything new with my review of The Trial. In one sentence, The Trial is about a man on trial for an unknown crime. The end. Why Josef K was indicted is a mystery; why he was convicted is even more so. What is so haunting about The Trial is the tone of voice. The frightening subject matter is told in such a robotic, matter of fact manner. The outrage just isn’t there.
As an aside, I can remember reading this in World Lit class in college.
Author fact: Kafka studied law and received a degree in 1906.
Book trivia: The Trial was published posthumously.
BookLust Twist: from Book Lust in the chapter called “Czech It Out” (p 70).
Great post! It’s been years since I read The Trial, and thanks to you I want to read it again! -Richard