Franz Kafka

Kafka, Franz (1883–1924), German writer. Kafka was born in Prague, of Jewish parents. Kafka created stories of conflicts for isolated, guilt-ridden protagonists—conflicts that could not be resolved or escaped, no matter their personal effort. His executor ignored instructions to destroy all his work, and subsequently published his novels, including The Trial (1925), The Castle (1926), and America (1927), and his short stories, including “The Metamorphosis” (1915), “A Country Doctor” (1919), and “In the Penal Colony” (1920).