Home » Reading & Literature » Classic Literature » Classic Authors: Franz Kafka

Classic Authors: Franz Kafka

© Susan Jensen

Franz Kafka was born on July 3, 1883, in Prague. His parents, Hermann and Julie Kafka, were middle-class Jews intent on improving their position in life. Hermann worked as a shopkeeper, making enough money to sustain a rather luxurious lifestyle for his family. As Franz and his three younger sisters grew, they were cared for by a Czech governess and catered to by maids and a cook. A shy and sensitive child, Franz spent his early years reading voraciously and writing plays for his sisters to perform. He avoided his father, a stern and domineering man, who seemed to loathe his only son.

Franz attended German schools, where he received a very basic education, which did not include the study of art, music or modern languages. He learned to speak German, struggled with mathematics, and wrote short pieces for his school newspaper. Franz was, in fact, a very average student. He graduated from the Altstadler Gymnasium in 1901, after which he enrolled at Karl Ferdinand University in Prague. Franz intended to study German literature, but soon turned to law, as it promised a more lucrative career. He finished the course in 8 terms, the shortest time possible, and graduated with a doctorate in 1906. During his time at the university, Franz met Max Brod, who became a lifetime friend.

After graduation, Franz fulfilled an obligatory one year internship. He then found positions as an insurance clerk. For much of his life, Franz worked at the semipublic Worker’s Accident Insurance institution as a claims agent. The job offered a good salary and short hours, so that he had enough spare time to pursue his writing career. Franz worked at this job until tuberculosis claimed his health. After 1917, he took repeated leaves, finally retiring in 1922.

In 1908, Franz saw his first work in print when Hyperion magazine agreed to publish several of his short prose sketches. He continued to write, but saw little other success. In 1910, he began keeping a diary, which still provides the most intimate access to his thoughts and philosophies. Meanwhile, Max Brod encouraged Franz to publish more of his work. In 1913, a collection of short pieces entitled Meditation appeared as well as a long short story titled The Judgment. The Metamorphosis, a story which deals with a son’s transformation into a large, repulsive insect, was published in 1915.

Despite the publication of his work, Franz found little other pleasure in life. Paralyzed by a fear of sex, he sailed in and out of unsatisfactory relationships. Although he became engaged three times, he never married. In fact, he continued to live with his parents throughout the majority of his life. In 1923, he moved to Berlin where he lived with Dora Diamant, one of the only times in his adult life that he did not dwell with his parents.

The copyright of the article Classic Authors: Franz Kafka in Classic Literature is owned by Susan Jensen. Permission to republish Classic Authors: Franz Kafka in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.