Blumfeld, an Old Bachelor

Franz Kafka

The Complete Works of Franz Kafka 15권 · Continental Press

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"Blumfeld, an Old Bachelor" ("Blumfeld, ein älterer Junggeselle") is an unfinished short story by Franz Kafka, written in 1915. It was published posthumously in 1936 as part of a collection of Kafka's works. This story is notable for its blend of surreal and mundane elements, a hallmark of Kafkas style, and reflects his characteristic themes of isolation and the absurdity of daily life. The story begins with Blumfeld, a middle-aged bachelor, coming home from work to his empty apartment. He is described as lonely and set in his ways. However, his solitude is disrupted when he discovers two bouncing balls inexplicably following him around. These balls, which seem to have a life of their own, symbolize a peculiar intrusion into Blumfelds carefully ordered life. Despite his efforts to get rid of them, the balls persist, adding an element of absurdity and frustration to his routine. The second part of the story shifts to Blumfeld's work environment, where he faces challenges in dealing with incompetent assistants and navigating bureaucratic inefficiencies. This section reinforces themes of alienation and the oppressive nature of social structures. Although the story remains incomplete, it offers a poignant exploration of solitude, the struggle for personal space, and the tension between individuality and societal expectations. This modern translation from the original German is a fresh, accessible and beautifully rendered text that brings to life Kafka's great literary work. This edition contains extra amplifying material including an illuminating afterword, a timeline of Kafka's life and works alongside of the historical events which shaped his art, and a short biography, to place this work in its socio-historical context.

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A Bohemian novelist and short-story writer, Kafka's work, which fuses elements of realism and the fantastic, typically features isolated protagonists facing bizarre or surrealistic predicaments and incomprehensible socio-bureaucratic powers. His writings, such as "The Metamorphosis" and "The Trial," explore themes of alienation, existential anxiety, and guilt, and are influential in modernist literature.