About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherYale University Press

ISBN-100300136617

ISBN-139780300136616

eBay Product ID (ePID)143629259

Product Key Features

Book TitleFranz Kafka : the Poet of Shame and Guilt

Number of Pages200 Pages

LanguageEnglish

Publication Year2013

TopicEuropean / General, Religious, Literary, Jewish

IllustratorYes

GenreLiterary Criticism, Biography & Autobiography

AuthorSaul Friedländer

Book SeriesJewish Lives Ser.

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Height0.7 in

Item Weight14.4 Oz

Item Length8.2 in

Item Width5.8 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceTrade

LCCN2012-034381

Reviews"One turns with relief to the immensely readable Saul Friedlnder, whose short biographical essay on Kafka appears in the excellent Jewish Lives series from Yale University Press . . . . Friedlnder's style is elegant and lucid, his knowledge of Kafka's oeuvre and social world superb, his command of the critical literature impeccable. . . . Could very well serve as the new classic short introduction to modernism's most elusive writer."-- Weekly Standard, "Friedländer's concise new book, born of both sorrow and affection, is an ideal place to begin among the hulking alps of Kafka studies."--William Giraldi, New Republic, "This is a book that springs directly from the author's background and from a manifest love for--and great knowledge of--Kafka's work and his milieu. The book's main objective is to mine the question of Kafka's guilt and shame, and Friedlander is more probing, historical and impartial in examining these questions than just about any other scholar I know."--Mark Anderson, author of Reading Kafka and Kafka's Clothes, "[Friedländer] has clearly mastered the vast scholarship that has attached itself to Kafka, and he brings fresh insights of his own to the challenging body of work Kafka left behind."--Jonathan Kirsch, Jewish Journal, "Friedländer's concise new book, born of both sorrow and affection, is an ideal place to begin among the hulking alps of Kafka studies." -William Giraldi, New Republic, "One turns with relief to the immensely readable Saul Friedländer, whose short biographical essay on Kafka appears in the excellent Jewish Lives series from Yale University Press . . . . Friedländer's style is elegant and lucid, his knowledge of Kafka's oeuvre and social world superb, his command of the critical literature impeccable. . . . Could very well serve as the new classic short introduction to modernism's most elusive writer."-- Weekly Standard, "[Friedländer] has clearly mastered the vast scholarship that has attached itself to Kafka, and he brings fresh insights of his own to the challenging body of work Kafka left behind."-Jonathan Kirsch, Jewish Journal, "[Friedlnder] has clearly mastered the vast scholarship that has attached itself to Kafka, and he brings fresh insights of his own to the challenging body of work Kafka left behind."-Jonathan Kirsch, Jewish Journal, "One turns with relief to the immensely readable Saul Friedländer, whose short biographical essay on Kafka appears in the excellent Jewish Lives series from Yale University Press . . . . Friedländer's style is elegant and lucid, his knowledge of Kafka's oeuvre and social world superb, his command of the critical literature impeccable. . . . Could very well serve as the new classic short introduction to modernism's most elusive writer."- Weekly Standard, "Like Kafka's work, Franz Kafka is dense and provocative. In his exploration of Kafka's work, Friedländer calls on his rich knowledge of Central Europe during Kafka's lifetime. . . A candid and stimulating examination of the forces that shaped Kafka's anguished life/work."--Maron L. Waxman, Jewish Book Council, "This is a book that springs directly from the author's background and from a manifest love for--and great knowledge of--Kafka's work and his milieu. The book's main objective is to mine the question of Kafka's guilt and shame, and Friedlander is more probing, historical and impartial in examining these questions than just about any other scholar I know."--Mark Anderson, author of Reading Kafka and Kafka's Clothes, "Like Kafka's work, Franz Kafka is dense and provocative. In his exploration of Kafka's work, Friedlnder calls on his rich knowledge of Central Europe during Kafka's lifetime. . . A candid and stimulating examination of the forces that shaped Kafka's anguished life/work."-Maron L. Waxman, Jewish Book Council, "[Friedlnder] has clearly mastered the vast scholarship that has attached itself to Kafka, and he brings fresh insights of his own to the challenging body of work Kafka left behind."--Jonathan Kirsch, Jewish Journal, "A creative, risky approach to interpreting Kafka. . . . Friedlnder's approach should motivate us to do what we should: reread one of the masters of 20th-century fiction."- The Forward, "This book is a clear, uncensorious and serious contribution to the publisher's Jewish Lives series. It is the work of a great historian paying careful attention to a great and disquieting writer."--Robert Eaglestone, Times Higher Education Supplement, "A creative, risky approach to interpreting Kafka. . . . Friedländer's approach should motivate us to do what we should: reread one of the masters of 20th-century fiction."- The Forward, "This is a book that springs directly from the author's background and from a manifest love for-and great knowledge of-Kafka's work and his milieu. The book's main objective is to mine the question of Kafka's guilt and shame, and Friedlander is more probing, historical and impartial in examining these questions than just about any other scholar I know."-Mark Anderson, author of Reading Kafka and Kafka's Clothes, "Like Kafka's work, Franz Kafka is dense and provocative. In his exploration of Kafka's work, Friedländer calls on his rich knowledge of Central Europe during Kafka's lifetime. . . A candid and stimulating examination of the forces that shaped Kafka's anguished life/work."-Maron L. Waxman, Jewish Book Council, "A creative, risky approach to interpreting Kafka. . . . Friedlnder's approach should motivate us to do what we should: reread one of the masters of 20th-century fiction."-- The Forward, "Like Kafka's work, Franz Kafka is dense and provocative. In his exploration of Kafka's work, Friedlnder calls on his rich knowledge of Central Europe during Kafka's lifetime. . . A candid and stimulating examination of the forces that shaped Kafka's anguished life/work."--Maron L. Waxman, Jewish Book Council, "This stimulating book investigates some of the sources of Kafka's personal anguish and its complex reflections in his imaginary world."-- Jewish Ledger, "A creative, risky approach to interpreting Kafka. . . . Friedländer's approach should motivate us to do what we should: reread one of the masters of 20th-century fiction."-- The Forward, "Interweaving Kafka's letters, diaries and stories, [Friedlander] shows us a new and vital Kafka, who made literature out of all the things he brilliantly failed at in his mostly painful life. Friedlander, the great historian of the Holocaust, intricately reveals how longing and personal history can disturb and inspire genius. It's as if I'd never read Kafka before, and finally know him."--Philip Schultz, Harriet : A Poetry Blog, the Poetry Foundation, "Interweaving Kafka's letters, diaries and stories, [Friedlander] shows us a new and vital Kafka, who made literature out of all the things he brilliantly failed at in his mostly painful life. Friedlander, the great historian of the Holocaust, intricately reveals how longing and personal history can disturb and inspire genius. It's as if I'd never read Kafka before, and finally know him."-Philip Schultz, Harriet : A Poetry Blog, the Poetry Foundation, "Friedlnder's concise new book, born of both sorrow and affection, is an ideal place to begin among the hulking alps of Kafka studies."--William Giraldi, New Republic, "This book is a clear, uncensorious and serious contribution to the publisher's Jewish Lives series. It is the work of a great historian paying careful attention to a great and disquieting writer."-Robert Eaglestone, Times Higher Education Supplement, "One turns with relief to the immensely readable Saul Friedlnder, whose short biographical essay on Kafka appears in the excellent Jewish Lives series from Yale University Press . . . . Friedlnder's style is elegant and lucid, his knowledge of Kafka's oeuvre and social world superb, his command of the critical literature impeccable. . . . Could very well serve as the new classic short introduction to modernism's most elusive writer."- Weekly Standard

Dewey Edition23

Dewey Decimal833/.912 B

SynopsisFrom the prizewinning Jewish Lives series, a highly original and engaging appraisal of Kafka's life, work, legacy, and thought Franz Kafka was the poet of his own disorder. Throughout his life he struggled with a pervasive sense of shame and guilt that left traces in his daily existence--in his many letters, in his extensive diaries, and especially in his fiction. This stimulating book investigates some of the sources of Kafka's personal anguish and its complex reflections in his imaginary world. In his query, Saul Friedl nder probes major aspects of Kafka's life (family, Judaism, love and sex, writing, illness, and despair) that until now have been skewed by posthumous censorship. Contrary to Kafka's dying request that all his papers be burned, Max Brod, Kafka's closest friend and literary executor, edited and published the author's novels and other works soon after his death in 1924. Friedl nder shows that, when reinserted in Kafka's letters and diaries, deleted segments lift the mask of "sainthood" frequently attached to the writer and thus restore previously hidden aspects of his individuality. About Jewish Lives: Jewish Lives is a prizewinning series of interpretative biography designed to explore the many facets of Jewish identity. Individual volumes illuminate the imprint of Jewish figures upon literature, religion, philosophy, politics, cultural and economic life, and the arts and sciences. Subjects are paired with authors to elicit lively, deeply informed books that explore the range and depth of the Jewish experience from antiquity to the present. In 2014, the Jewish Book Council named Jewish Lives the winner of its Jewish Book of the Year Award, the first series ever to receive this award. More praise for Jewish Lives: "Excellent" -New York Times "Exemplary" -Wall Street Journal "Distinguished" -New Yorker "Superb" -The Guardian, From the prizewinning Jewish Lives series, a highly original and engaging appraisal of Franz Kafka's life, work, legacy, and thought "The work of a great historian paying careful attention to a great and disquieting writer."--Robert Eaglestone, Times Higher Education Supplement Franz Kafka was the poet of his own disorder. Throughout his life he struggled with a pervasive sense of shame and guilt that left traces in his daily existence--in his many letters, in his extensive diaries, and especially in his fiction. This stimulating book investigates some of the sources of Kafka's personal anguish and its complex reflections in his imaginary world. In his query, Saul Friedländer probes major aspects of Kafka's life (family, Judaism, love and sex, writing, illness, and despair) that until now have been skewed by posthumous censorship. Contrary to Kafka's dying request that all his papers be burned, Max Brod, Kafka's closest friend and literary executor, edited and published the author's novels and other works soon after his death in 1924. Friedländer shows that, when reinserted in Kafka's letters and diaries, deleted segments lift the mask of "sainthood" frequently attached to the writer and thus restore previously hidden aspects of his individuality. About Jewish Lives: Jewish Lives is a prizewinning series of interpretative biography designed to explore the many facets of Jewish identity. Individual volumes illuminate the imprint of Jewish figures upon literature, religion, philosophy, politics, cultural and economic life, and the arts and sciences. Subjects are paired with authors to elicit lively, deeply informed books that explore the range and depth of the Jewish experience from antiquity to the present. In 2014, the Jewish Book Council named Jewish Lives the winner of its Jewish Book of the Year Award, the first series ever to receive this award. More praise for Jewish Lives: "Excellent" -New York Times "Exemplary" -Wall Street Journal "Distinguished" -New Yorker "Superb" -The Guardian

LC Classification NumberPT2621.A26Z7199265