Franz Kafka was born in Prague in 1883 to a middle class, Jewish family. Kafka, who had three younger sisters, grew up speaking German. His father was a successful businessman but was ill tempered and very materialistic. Kafka was known to often rebel against his father's ideals. Due to this "competition" with his father, Kafka grew up amongst much turmoil. Kafka was constantly in a battle with his Jewish heritage, which he was afraid to embrace. Due to Kafka’s strange combination of Jewish and German speaking heritage, he never fit in and was always an outsider, no matter where he went. 

            Kafka always had a love for literature and writing; however, he began his professional career in law. Kafka’s first published stories were inspired by his job in the workmen’s compensation department for the Austrian Government where he ended up remaining for his entire career until he was forced to retire due to poor health. It was here that he first realized the suffering that workers endure and thus he wrote "Conversation with a Beggar" and "Conversation with a Drunkard." 

            In 1912 Kafka composed a short story, “The Verdict” which told of a disorderly universe in which a father passed judgment on his principled son. This was one of Kafka’s first traditional works that includes all of the elements of a “Kafkaess” piece of work. Kafka’s next work was published in 1913 and was titled “The Stroker,” this was the first work that Kafka received public recognition for.

            Later in 1913, Kafka published perhaps his best known piece of work, “The Metamorphosis,” a work that focuses on a family and how they deal with their son how transforms into a large insect. Kafka is known for these types of bizarre and outlandish ideas but especially for works that involve the relationship between father and son. It is assumed that Kafka’s fascination with the father son relationship stems from his own unsteady and complicated relationship with his father. One of Kafka’s most renowned works is a 100-page letter written to his father explaining his own conscience and proclaiming final independence from his father.

            Kafka also wrote several novels in his later life including Amerika, The Trial, and The Castle, which were all only published after his death by his friends, despite his final wishes not to have any of his unpublished work published. From 1920 – 1922 Kafka’s heath deteriorated rapidly and he left Prague for Berlin in 1923. It was there that he wrote his last story, “The Little Woman,” before he returned to Prague and died in June of 1924.

            Kafka is remembered in literary history as one of the most influential writers ever. He pioneered a style that played the real against the surreal and challenged the traditional character against an incomprehensible world. Kafka truly started a literary revolution. 

            Kafka always had a love for literature and writing; however, he began his professional career in law. Kafka’s first published stories were inspired by his job in the workmen’s compensation department for the Austrian Government where he ended up remaining for his entire career until he was forced to retire due to poor health. It was here that he first realized the suffering that workers endure and thus he wrote "Conversation with a Beggar" and "Conversation with a Drunkard." 

            In 1912 Kafka composed a short story, “The Verdict” which told of a disorderly universe in which a father passed judgment on his principled son. This was one of Kafka’s first traditional works that includes all of the elements of a “Kafkaess” piece of work. Kafka’s next work was published in 1913 and was titled “The Stroker,” this was the first work that Kafka received public recognition for.

            Later in 1913, Kafka published perhaps his best known piece of work, “The Metamorphosis,” a work that focuses on a family and how they deal with their son how transforms into a large insect. Kafka is known for these types of bizarre and outlandish ideas but especially for works that involve the relationship between father and son. It is assumed that Kafka’s fascination with the father son relationship stems from his own unsteady and complicated relationship with his father. One of Kafka’s most renowned works is a 100-page letter written to his father explaining his own conscience and proclaiming final independence from his father.

            Kafka also wrote several novels in his later life including Amerika, The Trial, and The Castle, which were all only published after his death by his friends, despite his final wishes not to have any of his unpublished work published. From 1920 - 1922 Kafka’s health deteriorated rapidly and he left Prague for Berlin in 1923. It was there that he wrote his last story, “The Little Woman,” before he returned to Prague and died in June of 1924.

            Kafka is remembered in literary history as one of the most influential writers ever. He pioneered a style that played the real against the surreal and challenged the traditional character against an incomprehensible world. Kafka truly started a literary revolution.