Franz Kafka

The enduring legacy of Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka (1883-1924) is one of the most famous writers that ever lived in Prague and has become one of the most significant literary figures in the world. Kafka’s unusual life story and his unique writing style give his work a peculiar and exceptional character that is underlined by the existence of the Franz Kafka Museum in the Lesser Town in Prague. Come and visit the museum and get to know the imaginary and mysterious world of an extraordinary man.

Did you know that Franz Kafka’s work was almost never published?

According to historical reports we have at our disposal, Kafka did not want to be a well-known person or a writer in the true sense of the word. He did not want his manuscripts to be preserved, and he did not want them to be published. He actually wished for the very opposite and wrote mainly just for himself to express his thoughts. It was his friend Max Brod that published the manuscripts that Franz Kafka gave him with instructions to burn them. The whole world can be thankful he did not burn them and because of that, we can now immerse ourselves in the the strange worlds of his books like The Trial, the Surrealist The Castle and other extraordinary works.

Exhibition of K. Franz Kafka & Prague

The Exhibition of K. Franz Kafka & Prague is a long-standing exhibition in a museum that has been running since 2005, when it first opened. Investigating Kafka’s life or work from a purely biographical or chronological approach would be inadequate and perhaps misleading. That is why the museum seeks to capture two major verticals in which it tries to presents the life and work of the writer Franz Kafka from his perspective.

In the first part, the museum offers a view of Prague from Kafka’s perspective from the detailed descriptions found in his works. The exhibition tries to capture how Kafka himself viewed Prague, to simulate his feelings and show the major conflicts in his life in Prague. We can see Kafka’s interpretation of space and time that are cut out of ordinary perception. The experience is gradually deformed into deepening paranoia and surrealistic events.

Though the stories are set in Prague, this is never explicitly stated in the Kafka exhibition. This is what the second part of the exhibition focuses on. Kafka describes the city of Prague using imaginary topography in most cases without stating any names or descriptions of the places. It’s not important whether the writer is talking about a castle, a cathedral, or a school. It really does not matter what the individual buildings and places represent, but they act as allegorical sites and topological metaphors. A lot of effort has gone into provinge that Prague is always present in Franz Kafka’s works. But is that really the case? Come visit this great Exhibition of K – Franz Kafka & Prague and be the judge of how far the transformation can go.

Tours can be booked online, the Museum is open every day from 10 AM to 6 PM.

It is a great honour to operate the Mordecai 12 apartments in close proximity to Franz Kafka Square in Prague, where the famous writer lived. The square, with its modern statue of Franz Kafka, is a tourist attraction and its central location allows visitors to experience the vibrant culture of the place with its attractions. Staying in the apartments gives one the feeling of being part of Kafka's legacy, and his works also come to life while exploring the city. 

From a fully equipped kitchen to your own private balcony, our apartments provide you with every comfort. Whether you're looking for a short break or a long stay, our apartments are the ideal choice. We look forward to having you as our guest.

Article author:

Kristian Smith