Franz Kafka: The Complete Stories

Hello All, I recently purchased this book in faith, though I was also frustrated by the lack of information in the book description. So, I will provide here for you the table of contents so that whoever purchases this book from now on can know exactly what they are getting: (By the way, the book is beautifully new & well designed, with the edges of the pages torn, not cut.) When it says the complete stories, it means it. The foreword assures that the book contains "all of the fiction that Kafka committed to publication during his lifetime." That meas his novels, which he did NOT intend to be published but left note in his will to be destroyed, are NOT included: The Trial, America, The Castle. I have put his more famous stories in caps. Table Of Contents: THE LONGER STORIES: Before The Law, An Imperial Message Description Of A Struggle, Wedding Preparations In The Country, The Judgment, THE METAMORPHOSIS, In The Penal Colony, The Village Schoolmaster, Blumfeld An Elderly Bachelor, The Warden Of The Tomb, A Country Doctor, The Hunter Gracchus, The Hunter Gracchus A Fragment, THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA, The News Of The Building Of The Wall A Fragment, A Report To An Academy, A Report To An Academy Two Fragments, The Refusal, A Hunger Artist, INVESTIGATIONS OF A DOG, A Little Woman, THE BURROW, Josephine The Singer Or The Mouse Folk THE SHORTER STORIES: Children On A Country Road, The Trees, Clothes, Excursion Into The Mountains, Rejection, The Street Window, The Tradesman, Absent-minded Window-gazing, The Way Home, Passers-by, On The Tram, Reflections For Gentlemen-Jockeys, The Wish To Be A Red Indian, Unhappiness, Bachelor's Ill Luck, Unmasking A Confidence Trickster, The Sudden Walk, Resolutions, A Dream, Up In The Gallery, A Fratricide, The Next Village, A Visit To A Mine, Jackals And Arabs, The Bridge, The Bucket Rider, The New Advocate, An Old Manuscript, The Knock At The Manor Gate, Eleven Sons, My Neighbor, A Crossbreed A Sport, The Cares Of A Family Man, A Common Confusion, The truth About Sancho Panza, The Silence Of The Sirens, Prometheus, The City Coat Of Arms, Poseidon, Fellowship, At Night, The Problem Of Our Laws, The Conscription Of Troops, The Test, The Vulture, The Helmsman, The Top, A Little Fable, Home-Coming, First Sorrow, The Departure, Advocates, The Married Couple, Give It Up, On Parables Hope this was helpful! I definitely recommend purchasing this book, but not if you were looking for his novels. You should purchase this book, AND his novels. :)

An excellent collection of stories about humanity from a point of view that must be added to any that you already have acquired in your life. How does one reconcile the contradictions we encounter everyday? Kafka doesn’t answer that question, but after reading his work you will not be able to ignore the presence of the contradictions.

I was hoping this had a couple other stories in it that I’d read before, but it doesn’t. Aside from that, it’s a good collection!

Let it be known to all interested, that most of the stories in this collection are fragmentary, sometimes incomplete, and more often than not, extremely absurdist in nature. Actually, a lot are just simple parables, but more peculiar than average. I recommend this for all fans of Kafka. If you've never read him and buy this, it could be a gamble. As it turned out I liked him from line one, but that is hardly normal for everyone. Read a few of his shorter works first (you can find a lot of his short stuff online) and then determine for yourself; most of his works have a similar feel and theme.

Most of the stroies are gems. Kafka's unique style lies with the way he uses the language - he manages in bringing the reader to the darkest corners of the psyche using a matter-of-fact, almost bland collection of allegedly objective observations on his protagonists' emotions, thoughts and behaviours. These protagonists are sometimes human beings but some are neither human nor animals...One could call them Kafka imagination's progeny. The reason I give it only 4 stars is because some of the stories are bordering on ...boring. I guess the reason in having them in this edition is in order to be able to call it 'The Complete Stories'. Thus - if you are ready to accept some less than stellar writing, you'll be rewarded in most of the book by an extraordinary style and truly 'kafkaesque' ideas.

I will give the review five stars, as Kafka's work is deserving of that and the book delivers that, and I needn't elaborate upon the quality of his work as others have already done. Also, I don't know if this is an issue of this publisher/edition, and if I simply should have been aware. But there is an issue with the paper of the book. The edges of the pages are cut inconsistently and are not cleanly cut at all. Some pages are obviously wider than others, and some have ridges due to not being cut cleanly. I got that with my first order of the book. After seeing the issue, I had it replaced with a new book, as since I bought the book new, I expect it to look so, rather than the edges of the pages being reminiscent of some archaic tomb of sorts. However, upon receiving my replacement, it has exactly the same issue! I won't order another replacement, as I don't desire a continuous hassle, and it isn't that big of a deal. But the edges of both books I received are rather ugly and are a bit annoying to turn, as they turn in chunks due to the issue.

"The Complete Stories" has everything the beginning Kafka reader neads to get started. Of course this is required reading for the Kafka enthusiast. A well thought-out forward by John Updike prepares you for your journey into the amazing and complex mind of Kafka. The book is divided into two sections, one for the longer stories and one for the shorter stories (most of which only take up a page or two). The stories themselves are great. "The Metamorphisis" is included, in which Gregor Samsa awakens to find himself in the form of a rather large insect! "The Penal Colony", "The Judgment" and "A Country Doctor" are also included. There's certainly hasn't been an author since Kafka able to play upon the fears and emotions of the human mind, those thoughts playing in out head, when we realize that maybe some of this could happen to us. If you enjoy "The Complete Stories", be sure to pick up "Amerika", "The Castle" and "The Trial". These are Kafka's three novels and will complete your collection. All very much worth it!

This is a great collection of the Kafka classics that made such an impression on me when reading them in school as a teen. Definitely worth reading again and again as an adult with a renewed appreciation. I bought the book used in "very good" condition. It's honestly beautiful and in perfect condition, even better than expected! A must-have for the home library! Very helpful and responsive seller!

Great

The book is almost perfect but has some small imperfections along the spine and on the corners. Overall i decided I will keep it.

Não são contos completos! Absurdo!

includes all the stories which i wanted nice book but has a bit of ok book quality but if you are a Kafka's fan then yes please go for it and if not then also you should give this a try i am sure you will definitely like it

Es un libro que reúne los cuentos de Kafka a un gran precio. Además de que ya había comprado libros de esta editorial, como "The Trial", y me encanta que sus libros sean intonsos (que las hojas no estén uniformes). .