Kafka's novella The Metamorphosis was first published about 100 years ago. Essays collected here survey of the critical reception of The Metamorphosis, analyze its themes, and compare it to other works of literature. The books begins with biographical background on Kafka and a brief essay outlining Kafka's influence and the significance of The Metamorphosis, representing the perspective of The Paris Review literary magazine. The rest of the book reviews cultural and historical contexts and presents critical readings. Some specific subjects examined include Kafka's metaphor for extreme alienation, confinement in The Metamorphosis, and a comparison of Kafka's and Nabokov's images of dwarves, saints, and beetles. The book also includes a chronology of Kafka's life and list of works. Whitlark (English, Texas Tech U.) has written a previous book on Kafka. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
