The Trial

The Trial ( 1925 ) tells the distressing story of Josef K. who wakes up one morning to find he’s under arrest for an unnamed offense. As cryptic legal proceedings unfold around him, K. struggles to make sense of his predicament or convince others of his innocence. It’s a  disturbing parable that raises philosophical questions about personal dignity and free will when pitted against entrenched bureaucracies.

• People who appreciate surreal, disorienting stories
• Readers and listeners grappling with existential questions
• Anyone who feels alienated from bureaucracy

Franz Kafka was a Prague-born Jewish novelist and short story writer of German-language fiction. He wasn’t famous in his lifetime, but the posthumous publications of stories including The Castle and The Metamorphosis drew attention to his dystopian style and obsessive attention to detail. Kafka died in 1924 at the age of 40.