In search of lost Kafka

Authors:

• Łukasz Musiał

Abstract

The article offers a new perspective on the work of Franz Kafka. In the first part, the author surveys most important examples of the 20^th century reception in order to provide the background for the presentation of the readings by Polish scholars and critics, such as Agata Bielik-Robson. It is at the same time a response to Bielik-Robson's review entitled "What Did Franz Kafka Look for" ("Teksty Drugie", 4/2012). In the last two parts the author sketches new field of interpretation of Kafka's prose, inspired by and associated with Rudolf Steiner's anthroposophy, quasi-philosophical trend from the beginning of the 20^th century, which was of great influence for Kafka. This influence however was not adequately addressed and discussed by the scholars of Kafka in spite of the fact that it can be traced in such books as "Trial." The last fragments of the article are devoted to the reading of this novel from anthroposophical perspective.