Ohmyscience
01-25-2009, 08:56 PM
I've recently came across "Why you should read Kafka before you waste your life" by James Hawes. Has anyone read this work and can comment on whether Hawes is as honest as he claims to be or is he simply being polemical? The view of Kafka portrayed in his book is completely the opposite of what I perceived him to be.
Anyone interested in the this book (spoiler alert), it highlights the other life Kafka was immersed in. Most notably presented by Hawes is Kafka's affinity for pornography and brothels. Hawes also digs out Kafka's claim to fame and his well connected literary circles thereby rebuking the myth that Kafka was largely ignored during his life.
In summation I would like to pose a more general question: "Do the myths of authors affect how you perceive their works?". I still prefer the myth of Kafka as the conflicted reclusive virtuoso writer which seems to reflect his works.
Anyone interested in the this book (spoiler alert), it highlights the other life Kafka was immersed in. Most notably presented by Hawes is Kafka's affinity for pornography and brothels. Hawes also digs out Kafka's claim to fame and his well connected literary circles thereby rebuking the myth that Kafka was largely ignored during his life.
In summation I would like to pose a more general question: "Do the myths of authors affect how you perceive their works?". I still prefer the myth of Kafka as the conflicted reclusive virtuoso writer which seems to reflect his works.