ISBN A Hunger Artist and Other Stories 272 pages English

In recent decades interest in hunger artists has greatly diminished.' Kafka published two collections of short stories in his lifetime A Country Doctor: Little Tales (1919) and A Hunger Artist: Four Stories (1924). Both collections are included in their entirety in this edition which also contains other uncollected stories and a selection of posthumously published works that have become part of the Kafka canon. Enigmatic satirical often bleakly humorous these stories approach human experience at a tangent: a singing mouse an ape an inquisitive dog and a paranoid burrowing creature are among the protagonists as well as the professional starvation artist. A patient seems to be dying from a metaphysical wound; the war-horse of Alexander the Great steps aside from history and adopts a quiet profession as a lawyer. Fictional meditations on art and artists and a series of aphorisms that come close to expressing Kafka's philosophy of life further explore themes that recur in his major novels. Newly translated and with an invaluable introduction and notes Kafka's short stories are haunting and unforgettable. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features including expert introductions by leading authorities helpful notes to clarify the text up-to-date bibliographies for further study and much more.