The Metamorphosis and Other Stories (Barnes & Noble Classics Series)

About this book

The Metamorphosis and Other Stories by Franz Kafka is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader including new scholarship thoughtful design and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics: New introductions commissioned from todays top writers and scholars Biographies of the authors Chronologies of contemporary historical biographical and cultural events Footnotes and endnotes Selective discussions of imitations parodies poems books plays paintings operas statuary and films inspired by the work Comments by other famous authors Study questions to challenge the readers viewpoints and expectations Bibliographies for further reading Indices & Glossaries when appropriate All editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influencesbiographical historical and literaryto enrich each readers understanding of these enduring works. Virtually unknown during his lifetime Franz Kafka is now one of the worlds most widely read and discussed authors. His nightmarish novels and short stories have come to symbolize modern mans anxiety and alienation in a bizarre hostile and dehumanized world. This vision is most fully realized in Kafkas masterpiece The Metamorphosis a story that is both harrowing and amusing and a landmark of modern literature. Bringing together some of Kafkas finest work this collection demonstrates the richness and variety of the authors artistry. The Judgment which Kafka considered to be his decisive breakthrough and The Stoker which became the first chapter of his novel Amerika are here included. These two along with The Metamorphosis form a suite of stories Kafka referred to as The Sons and they collectively present a devastating portrait of the modern family. Also included are In the Penal Colony a story of a torture machine and its operators and victims and A Hunger Artist about the absurdity of an artist trying to communicate with a misunderstanding public. Kafkas lucid succinct writing chronicles the labyrinthine complexities the futility-laden horror and the stifling oppressiveness that permeate his vision of modern life. Jason Baker is a writer of short stories living in Brooklyn New York.