The Trial by Franz Kafka Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Trial
Book Review: Extremely thought provoking....
Summary: 5 Stars
I won't bore you with the details of the plot, but simply tell you that this book will leave you thinking well after you finish it. The utter finality of the proceedings that involve Mr. K evoke images of Camus, but Kafka writes human interaction so much better and really has a feel for the subtleties of conversation. Stick with The Trial and it will reward you, trust me.Book Review: Fantastic book, but not the best translation
Summary: 4 Stars
This is possibly one of the most important works of the 20th century; however, many translations do not do it justice. In attempting to correct Kafka's occasional use of unorthodox grammar, I believe translations rob the reader of elements that add to the book. Also, the important opening line of the book (just to point out one of a number of examples) loses its original meaning through the constant misinterpretation and subsequent translation. I recommend Breon Mitchell's translation--it is the best I have read and it truly does justice to the original work of Kafka.Book Review: From the Play to the Book
Summary: 5 Stars
I have recently been a part of a school production of the Trial. It was amazing to see high school students grasp the materail handled in this novel. After participating in this production I found it useful to read the novel to see where there had been differences and scenes omitted. I fell in love with Kafka's writing and highly reccomend this novel.Book Review: Good translation...
Summary: 5 Stars
I can't "review" The Trial. As George Steiner writes in the introduction: "The thought that there is anything fresh to be said of Franz Kafka's The Trial is implausible." I will however, comment on this particular edition. I have not read any other translation of the novel, but I was satisfied by the job done by Willa and Edwin Muir. The so-called "Definitive Edition" is worth having, not only for the classic translation, but also for the supplemental material: the introductory essay, unfinished chapters, passages deleted by Kafka, excerpts from Kafka's diaries, drawings by Kafka, and Max Brod's postscripts to previous editions.Book Review: Great Read
Summary: 5 Stars
Just picked it up on a whim a year or so back - very interesting underrated book that we can all relate to in some manner, but still retains an air of mystery (since his "crime" is never disclosed) to make you think a bit.
Hopefully I don't sound pretentious, but shortly after I read Ivan Illich Deschooling Society. While justice systems aren't schools, I think the phrase "We confuse teaching with being taught...police for security...politics for order...and overall trained to confuse service in place of value" comes into play with The Trial.
Maybe I'm off, but to me, I think Kafka's main goal was illustrating this concept, even though it predates Illich by quite some time.
By stripping away the actual accusation, it doesn't become a book about stopping a murderer, thief, rapist, embezzler. If the accusation were revealed, you would be tricked into confusing service over value - ie you'd naturally feel the protagonist was guilty if accused of something, or you'd naturally feel the court is in perfect right to investigate a SPECIFIC CRIME...and automatically trust that it's order.
But without an accusation, all you are left to examine is what has been accomplished...ie you question the value, no longer blinded by the service. As the book progresses, you see it's just a show people are tricked buying into - judges are important by title alone not because they stop criminals, defendants are automatically in fear of something they haven't done and question their guilt despite it being ambiguous if it's good or bad, and people automatically judge you on what they're told vs. what they believe and abandon any practical thought of their own to the point where strangers can convict someone you've known for quite some time. In the end, you see little is accomplished and people are just following a 9-5 routine uninspired by actual productivity, actual right or wrong, and everyone trapped into the service, not value, mindset.
Interesting to see what others think,but to me, The Trial is a verbatim portrayal of Illich's books.