Editions, Translations, Adaptations

This is an important chapter in a major new publication on Kafka. Durrani examines the conditions in which Kafka produced his most famous works, and proceeds to review the editorial work of Max Brod within the context of the three major editions of Kafka’s oeuvre, each of which seems to have been conceived with the purpose of introducing a ‘new’ Kafka to the public. Translations into English and into other modern languages are also evaluated; here Durrani shows that different perceptions of Kafka across Europe result from the properties of various linguistic media. Finally, consideration is given to a variety of adaptations for the stage and other media.