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The Metamorphosis

A New Translation by Susan Bernofsky
By Franz Kafka
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka is a surreal tale that explores themes of alienation and identity. The story begins when travelling salesman Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning to discover he has transformed into a gigantic insect. As he struggles to adjust to his new condition, his family's reactions and the impact on their lives unfold, delving into the complexities of human relationships and self-perception.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate thought-provoking narratives that explore themes of identity, alienation, and the absurdity of life. It offers a unique perspective through a surreal tale that challenges conventional reality, making it compelling for those who like introspective, philosophical fiction.

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"This fine version, with David Cronenberg's inspired introduction and the new translator's beguiling afterword, is, I suspect, the most disturbing though the most comforting of all so far; others will follow, but don't hesitate: this is the transforming text for you."-Richard Howard

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka's 1915 novella of unexplained horror and nightmarish transformation, became a worldwide classic and remains, a century later, one of the most widely read works of fiction in the world. It is the story of travelling salesman Gregor Samsa, who wakes one morning to find himself transformed into a monstrous insect. This hugely influential work inspired George Orwell, Albert Camus, Jorge Louis Borges, and Ray Bradbury, while continuing to unsettle millions of readers.

In her new translation of Kafka's masterpiece, Susan Bernofsky strives to capture both the humour and the humanity in this macabre tale, underscoring the ways in which Gregor Samsa's grotesque metamorphosis is just the physical manifestation of his longstanding spiritual impoverishment.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Franz Kafka's novella is praised for its blend of comedy and tragedy, captured brilliantly in Susan Bernofsky's vivid new translation. Critics highlight how this edition unveils Kafka's sharp wit, offering a fresh and pleasantly surprising take on the classic work.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780393347098

Publisher: WW Norton & Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 18 February 2014

Country: United States

Imprint: WW Norton & Co

Contributors:

  • Translated by Susan Bernofsky
  • Introduction by David Cronenberg
  • Translated by Susan Bernofsky
  • Translated by Susan Bernofsky

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 10.0mm

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 211.0mm

Weight: 134g

Pages: 128

Collections

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About the Author

Franz Kafka (1883-1924) was born of Jewish parents in Prague. Several of his story collections were published in his lifetime and his novels, The Trial, The Castle, and Amerika, were published posthumously by his editor Max Brod. Susan Bernofsky is the acclaimed translator of Hermann Hesse, Robert Walser, and Jenny Erpenbeck, and the recipient of many awards, including the Helen and Kurt Wolff Prize and the Hermann Hesse Translation Prize. She teaches literary translation at Columbia University and lives in New York.

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