Franz Kafka

Known for: Writing
Born: July 3, 1883
Died: June 3, 1924
Birthplace: Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia, Austria-Hungary

Franz Kafka (July 3, 1883 – June 3, 1924) was a German-language Bohemian writer born in Prague. Combining elements of realism and the fantastic, his works explore themes of alienation, existential anxiety, guilt, and bureaucratic absurdity, originating the term "Kafkaesque." During his lifetime, Kafka published short stories and the novella The Metamorphosis (1915). Following his death from tuberculosis, his unpublished manuscripts were posthumously edited and released by his executor Max Brod, including the celebrated novels The Trial (1925), The Castle (1926), and Amerika (1927). His literature remains a foundational influence on modern prose, theater, and cinema.