More than 800 entries detail the life and works of one of the most enduring authors of world literature. Few writers have had as great an impact as Franz Kafka. Known for depicting alienation, frustration, and the victimisation of the individual by impenetrable bureaucracies, his works have given rise to the term "Kafkaesque," which people use to describe similar situations in their own lives. Although his influence has been enormous and he has secured a lasting place in contemporary culture, his writings often are seen as inscrutable, especially for readers approaching them for the first time. Designed for undergraduates, specialists, and general readers, this encyclopedia details his life and works. Included are more than 800 alphabetically arranged entries on his works, characters, themes, family members, acquaintances, and other topics, including: Abraham; Absurd; Animals; Bureaucracy; Colonialism; Death; Don Quixote; Sigmund Freud; Guilt; Irony; Judaism; K.; Thomas Mann; Nihilism; and many more. Entries often cite works for further reading, and the encyclopedia closes with a selected, general bibliography.
Written by a team of leading scholars; Summarizes all of Kafka's works and discusses his major characters; Explains his relationships with family members and acquaintances; Explores his themes, influences, and literary and intellectual culture