The Unhappiness of Being a Single Man

New translations of the best stories by the one of the twentieth century's greatest and most influential writers

No one has captured the modern experience, its wild dreams, strange joys, its neuroses and boredom, better than Franz Kafka. His vision, with its absurdity and twisted humour, has lost none of its force or relevance today. This essential collection, newly selected and translated by Alexander Starritt, casts fresh light on Kafka's genius.

Alongside brutal depictions of violence and justice are jokes and deceptively slight, mysterious fables. These unforgettable pieces reflect the brilliance at the core of Franz Kafka, arguably most fully expressed within his short stories. Together they showcase a writer of unmatched imaginative depth, capable of expressing the most profound reality with a wry smile.

Franz Kafka was born to Jewish parents in Prague and wrote in German. He published only a few story collections and individual stories in literary magazines in his lifetime. The rest of his work was published posthumously. He is now considered one of the most influential authors of the twentieth century.