Jurnal

Franz Kafka’s Jurnal shows how he felt left out. It also shows his need to write. He dislikes social visits and the cares of family life. He fears that close ties will cost him time alone. Even talk about books seems to weaken his thoughts. His diary makes these feelings clearer than his fiction does.

For Kafka, writing comes before sex, food and drink. It also comes before music and philosophy. He sees his strength as limited and gives it to writing. This journal shows readers his choice and what it costs him.

Kafka’s life began in Prague in 1883, among German-speaking Jews. His father was a small trader. He was the eldest of six children. He clashed with his father. He found comfort with his mother, a well-educated woman. He did well at school and followed his father’s wishes. He earned a doctorate in law. As a student, he made friends with artists and writers. He also made friends with students of philosophy. He met Max Brod, who stayed his friend for life.

Kafka took a job in insurance in 1906. At the same time, he wrote his early stories. Poor health later forced him to leave his job and Prague. He came back three months before his death in June 1924. Brod later brought his unfinished novels into print. This went against Kafka’s wish to burn them.

Radu Gabriel Parvu translated Tagebücher into Romanian for this edition. The book forms part of the Anansi Ego collection.