Franz Kafka (Člověk své i naší doby)

The book introduces his life and work to all those who want to know his world in more detail. It brings to life the world of Prague German literature, the world of his interests, family and friends, as well as the world of strange stories that still puzzle readers and word experts alike. The author of the text is Radek Malý, two-time Magnesia Litera award winner, poet, translator and Germanist. The illustrations were created by Renáta Fučíková, a leading Czech illustrator and winner of numerous domestic and international awards. Kafka's life, his family, his relationship with women, and above all his approach to literary creation are presented in a clear yet engaging manner. Some of his major works are presented in a condensed form of a comic strip (e.g. the short story "The Transformation"), while other works are presented in newly translated excerpts (e.g. "Letter to My Father"). The purpose of the excerpts and the introductory chapters is to show Kafka as a man who was largely shaped by the circumstances of his time, which is forgotten under the suggestive influence of reading and multiple interpretations of his works. Franz Kafka is also presented in an unconventional way as an everyday man: a sportsman and a tourist. The book arcs up to the present day, when Kafka has more than once become a brand of profitable commercial merchandise. The book Franz Kafka. A Man of His Time and Ours recalls not only this perhaps most famous Prague native, but also the rare cultural symbiosis that the coexistence of Czechs, Jews and Germans in one city represented. In addition to becoming familiar with Kafka and his work, then, the reader should understand the reasons for the depth and remarkability of not only Kafka's work, but also that of his contemporaries.

The Czech edition