Franz Kafka (3 July 1883 – 3 June 1924) was a
German-language writer of novels and short stories who is widely regarded as one of the major figures of
20th-century literature. His work, which fuses elements of
realism and the
fantastic, typically features isolated protagonists faced by bizarre or surrealistic predicaments and incomprehensible social-
bureaucratic powers, and has been interpreted as exploring themes of
alienation,
existential anxiety,
guilt, and
absurdity. His best known works include "" ("The Metamorphosis"), (
The Trial), and (
The Castle). The term
Kafkaesque has entered the English language to describe situations like those in his writing.