The Judgement / In the Penal Colony
by Franz Kafka 
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The Judgement. You don't need to know any biographical details about Kafka to know that he didn't get on with his father, that he was a domineering, manipulative bully who sapped all his son's self-confidence as if the man became a child again under the onslaught of his wounding words. He couldn't have written this in such a chilling manner if he hadn't lived it.
The Penal Colony is much more interesting. What its about is supposedly the product of a very devious and cruel mind, that of a true sadist. But its much deeper and far more chilling than that. And of course, at the end, someone dies. That's Kafka for you, always a trip towards mortality.
The Penal Colony is much more interesting. What its about is supposedly the product of a very devious and cruel mind, that of a true sadist. But its much deeper and far more chilling than that. And of course, at the end, someone dies. That's Kafka for you, always a trip towards mortality.
There's something to be said for rereading. I *thought* I had read 'The Judgement' before, and I *know* I've read 'In the Penal Colony' several times, but both had stretches which felt brand new. Weird.
Regardless: these stories are essential. If you don't get anything out of them, come back in five years. They'll be there, waiting.
Regardless: these stories are essential. If you don't get anything out of them, come back in five years. They'll be there, waiting.
quite simply mind blowing. written in a stream of consciousness style over a night's period 10PM-6AM as he later noted in his journal, this is Kafka channeling ghosts, dreams, and Freud.
The judgement: Being a child of "today" I don't feel it convincing enough...thought it was a bit melodramatic...but isn't that what Kafka's about? Hmmm...I wonder!
In the penal Colony: LOVED IT! I mean haven't we all seen people who like to take the law in their own hands and how harsh they can be...showed a very nice perspective on how people in the colonies were treated...at some point
In the penal Colony: LOVED IT! I mean haven't we all seen people who like to take the law in their own hands and how harsh they can be...showed a very nice perspective on how people in the colonies were treated...at some point
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German Literature
518 works; 55 members
Author Information
Franz Kafka -- July 3, 1883 - June 3, 1924 Franz Kafka was born to middle-class Jewish parents in Prague, Czechoslovakia on July 3, 1883. He received a law degree at the University of Prague. After performing an obligatory year of unpaid service as law clerk for the civil and criminal courts, he obtained a position in the workman's compensation show more division of the Austrian government. Always neurotic, insecure, and filled with a sense of inadequacy, his writing is a search for personal fulfillment and understanding. He wrote very slowly and deliberately, publishing very little in his lifetime. At his death he asked a close friend to burn his remaining manuscripts, but the friend refused the request. Instead the friend arranged for publication Kafka's longer stories, which have since brought him worldwide fame and have influenced many contemporary writers. His works include The Metamorphosis, The Castle, The Trial, and Amerika. Kafka was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) in August 1917. As his disease progressed, his throat became affected by the TB and he could not eat regularly because it was painful. He died from starvation in a sanatorium in Kierling, near Vienna, after admitting himself for treatment there on April 10, 1924. He died on June 3 at the age of 40. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Franz Kafka has a Legacy Library. Legacy libraries are the personal libraries of famous readers, entered by LibraryThing members from the Legacy Libraries group.
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Penguin 60s Classics (34)
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- Canonical title
- The Judgement / In the Penal Colony
- Original publication date
- 1912
- First words
- It was a Sunday morning in the height of spring.
(the Malcolm Pasley translation - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)They could still have managed to leap into the boat, but the voyager picked up a heavy knotted rope from the deck, threatened them with it and so held them at bay.
(the Malcolm Pasley translation
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, General Fiction
- DDC/MDS
- 833.912 — Literature & rhetoric German & related literatures German fiction 1900- 1900-1990 1900-1945
- LCC
- PT2621 .A26 .U713 — Language and Literature German, Dutch and Scandinavian literatures German literature Individual authors or works 1860/70-1960
- BISAC
Statistics
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- 200
- Popularity
- 163,222
- Reviews
- 4
- Rating
- (4.10)
- Languages
- English, French, German, Portuguese
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 4
