Franz Kafka: The Complete Novels

The publisher of this book did no justice to this great author. There were typos and/or grammatical errors every 10 pages, if not more. No one took the time to proof-read this book before going to publish. It was almost unreadable. If it weren't for Kafka, I'd not recommend this book at all.

A Google translate of the original would have made more sense than what I read. It was none other than frustrating to get through some of the stories, and I found myself utter bewildered of what was going on. After reading a few pages of 'The Castle' I had to get another copy to see if the book was really that bad. I paid a significant amount to make sure I got a good copy and there is worlds of difference between a good translation and this pure thing.

Stories had interesting plots. Hard to understand the settings and protagonist’s line of thinking at times because of translations and/or transcription from the original.Typing was horrible- spaces were where they weren’t supposed to be.

Love this collection, but want to know who the translator is... I can't find that information anywhere.

Classic philosophy, everyone should read some.

Pretty good but I don't have any thing to compare it with.

Thank you!

Love Kafka in the Metamorphosis, The Castle, etc.

Well, I ploughed my way through this nonsense because it's supposed to be good for me to read renowned authors - but seriously? Why is he worth the renown? He drivels on with a boring side-plot before being distracted by yet another, and rarely do we return to anything of interest. Am I the one missing something - or is this a case of the "Emperor's New Clothes"?

I didn't understand any of it. It's for clever people, not me.

Exasperated by the lack of attention granted through a seemingly simple edit. I don't in fact believe that this piece was edited at all! Indeed the piece is free hence my granting it three stars, however, frankly, I'd rather have paid for a checked version.

This seems to be the complete novels, unlike a similarly titled version.There are several typos but it was free so no major worries.

The Trial introduced me to Kafka, when his reputation hadn't reached me, and everything I read was Forsythe, war and political thrillers. I had picked it up from a friend's shelf while leaving for a train journey, thinking it must be some legal thriller. But the book was about to change what I would read henceforth. It stunned me for its sheer clinicality at handling emotions and responses and the dark. I actually started learning German to be able to understand him in his own tongue.Kafka's genuis at connecting human responses and emotions to his circumstances, and then inventing dangers so plausibly and unputdownably is unrivaled.This collection is the full peep into Kafka. He didn't write too many, and too much, anyways. But yes, as always, the true soul of Kafka's work is amiss in all the stories, and I doubt if any English translation can ever bring it out.Unless I write it. But I don't know German yet. Go for this collection at least for getting enriched by Kafka's thoughtware. He's a profound philosopher who never took himself seriously, I guess.