Franz Kafka was born on July 3rd, 1883. He led a short prolific writing life, but with unusual twists in his story details. Not many people have a word named after them, but he did. The word ‘Kafkaesque’ acording to Merriam Webster “especially: having a nightmarishly complex, bizarre, or illogical quality. e.g. Kafkaesque bureaucratic delays”
I have the book “Franz Kafka; The Complete Stories” 1971. In it, are his famous stories “The Metamorphosis” and “The Trial”. Can one really imagine waking up, and finding out you are now a cockroach?
As well as his famous dark stories, there is a story about Kafka, helping out a little girl at a park. Based on rumours, friends, and letters, the story is that Kafka was sitting at a park bench in Berlin, near the end of his life convalescing, when this little girl came up frantic because she could not find her lost doll. They looked together but it was near dark, so Kafka told her that they should meet up in the morning, and continue looking.
The next morning when they met up, Kafka said that he could not find her, but the doll had left him a letter. It said “Sorry I left without saying goodby. I saw a bike with an empty basket, and decided to travel. I will let you know my adventures.” For the next few weeks, Kafka and the little girl met at the park, and read the newest letter that the doll had written, telling of wonderful adventures. After three weeks, the doll’s last letter said that she was going on an expedition and wouldn’t be able to write any more.
Franz Kafka died shortly after his trip to Berlin.
These are three variations of the Kafka story. First is “Kafka and the Doll” by Larissa Theule and Rebecca Green, 2021; Then “Kafka and the Traveling Doll” by Jordi Sierra i Fabra, 2019; and “The Lost Doll” by Mike Dodd and Jean Richardson, 1993.
“Everything you love will probably be lost but in the end, love will return in another way.” – Franz Kafka
Thanks for reading.
Librarytomes 