Franz Kafka

July 3, 1883 - June 3, 1924

·        Considered neither a Czech author, since he wrote mostly in German, nor a German author since he lived most of his life in Prague.

·        His writings are known for their dark tones and themes of alienation and persecution. His most famous works are The Metamorphosis, A Hunger Artist, The Trial, Amerika, and The Castle.

·        Only a few of his short stories were published during his lifetime; his writing did not receive much attention until after his death. On his deathbed, Kafka told his friend and literary executor Max Brod to destroy all of his manuscripts upon his death. Brod did not follow through with this request but rather oversaw the publication of most of Kafka's work which soon began to gain recognition and critical regard.

·        Kafka died in a sanatorium near Vienna while undergoing treatment for turburculosis.

·        Born in Prague (Bohemia) during the time when it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Kafka and Einstein

Johanna (Bobasch) Fantova (born in 1901) met Albert Einstein in 1929 in Berlin. He gave her a job organizing his personal library and later took her sailing at this summer home in Caputh. Her husband, Otto Fanta, was the son of Otto and Bertha Fanta. Berta Fanta ran a literary salon in Prage where Franz Kafka and his two writer friends Max Brod and Franz Werfel would frequent. Later, Albert Einstein became a patron there while he was a physics professor in Prague. He began associating the with group of Jewish intellectuals, one of whom was Kafka, that gathered there for discussions on philosophy and to play music.

Johanna and Albert renewed their friendship in the U.S. during World War II. She also worked at Princeton as a librarian. Around Princeton she was known as his “girlfriend.”

In the House of the Stone Ram in Prague, Albert Einstein played his violin for Franz Kafka.

Kafka heard Albert Einstein lecture.

Kafka evidently was a poor student of mathematics and theoretical sciences but these subjects, particularly Einstein’s theory of relativity, were popular amongst Kafka’s friends.

Johanna and Albert renewed their friendship in the U.S. during World War II. She also worked at Princeton as a librarian. Around Princeton she was known as his “girlfriend.”

In the House of the Stone Ram in Prague, Albert Einstein played his violin for Franz Kafka.

The white building on the right is the House of the Stone Ram in Prague

Kafka heard Albert Einstein lecture.

Kafka evidently was a poor student of mathematics and theoretical sciences but these subjects, particularly Einstein’s theory of relativity, were popular amongst Kafka’s friends.