Franz Kafka

Franz Kafka

Imagine yourself living in Prague in the early 1900s, belonging to the German speaking minority of which you represent the Jewish minority and your father, an entrepreneur, is mainly concerned to “make it.”  Against these odds Franz Kafka was trying to establish himself as a writer.  In an informal setting, we will discuss parts of his short stories “The Judgment”, “The Metamorphosis”, “In the Penal Colony,” and segments of his novel “The Trial” and find out, if the shock that was felt around the world, has worn out or if Kafka manages even today to get under our skin.

Please join us on Thursday, March 20, 2014, at 6:30 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church, for a lively talk and discussion with Klaus Weissenberger, Professor of German at Rice University.  One of Dr. Weissenberger’s special fields of study is German and Austrian authors.  Franz Kafka was born in the late 19th century in Prague, at that time part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  In essence, Franz Kafka considered life and society basically as menacing, hostile, and malevolent.  While his writings reflect his inner conflict, critics consider him as one of the most influential authors of the 20th century.

Christ the King Lutheran Church is located at 2353 Rice Boulevard, Houston, TX  77005.  Registration begins at 6:15 p.m.; at 6:30 we will have our customary food and beverage reception, and the meeting and discussion start at 7:00 p.m.  Meeting fees are $10 for members, $5 for students, and $15 for nonmembers.  Ample parking is available on the Rice University parking lot off Greenbriar for $1, credit cards only.

Please RSVP here or to angelika@houstonleipzig.org as soon as possible, so that we can plan for the reception.

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