Letter to His Father
Ratings25
Average rating4.2
A son’s poignant letter to his father—from the author of The Metamorphosis and The Trial, and one of the most important writers of the twentieth century. • “One of the great confessions of literature.” —The New York Times Book Review
Franz Kafka wrote this letter to his father, Hermann Kafka, in November 1919. Max Brod, Kafka’s literary executor, relates that Kafka actually gave the letter to his mother to hand to his father, hoping it might renew a relationship that had lost itself in tension and frustration on both sides. But Kafka’s probing of the deep flaw in their relationship spared neither his father nor himself. He could not help seeing the failure of communication between father and son as another moment in the larger existential predicament depicted in so much of his work. Probably realizing the futility of her son’s gesture, Julie Kafka did not deliver the letter but instead returned it to its author.
Reviews
Popular Reviews
Reviews with the most likes.
3.7. Lo leí en español, pero no me era posible encontrar el libro o la editorial, y esto lo comento para decir que me encantó la forma de escritura. Me encantó leer sobre la relación con su padre, muy interesante.
I have always wanted to understand Franz Kafka, especially his works. I thought it's better to first read his letter to the father and then dive into his books to fully understand the work.
I hate to rate or review this because how inhumane must you be to rate someone's pain and agony. All I can say is the letter made me reflect on the patterns of, what could be sometimes, a toxic upbringing. It's important for everyone to read this book not only to understand Kafka better but to introspect on any patterns in your family that were passed from one generation to other. Hermann was lucky to not read his son's letter. But how would you feel if your child had written this letter to you? This question made me affirm to be a better father one day.
I should not have picked this book up thinking it would help with my father issues - I cried more times in an hour for the first time in eight years. Thanks, Kafka.
Top Prompts
Featured Prompt
4,049 books#4,049 in What are your favorite books of all time?
When you think back on every book you've ever read, what are some of your favorites? These can be from any time of your life – books that resonated with you as a kid, ones that shaped your personal...
