![Die Verwandlung [The Metamorphosis].](https://d3525k1ryd2155.cloudfront.net/h/995/307/1439307995.0.m.jpg)
![Die Verwandlung [The Metamorphosis].](https://d3525k1ryd2155.cloudfront.net/h/995/307/1439307995.0.x.jpg)
Click for full-size.
Die Verwandlung [The Metamorphosis].
by Kafka, Franz
- Used
- first
- Condition
- See description
- Seller
-
Palm Beach, Florida, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Leipzig: Kurt Wolff, 1916. True first edition of one of Franz Kafka's most important works. Octavo, original wrappers. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket, rebacked. An exceptional example. The Metamorphosis tells the story of salesman Gregor Samsa who wakes one morning to find himself inexplicably transformed into a huge insect. "While critics have interpreted this chilling story variously as a description of despair in a meaningless world, as a reaction to institutional authoritarianism, and as an expression of conflict between the author and his father, its power seems to rest in its resistance to explanation. W.H. Auden has said of it, 'Had one to name the author who comes nearest to bearing the same kind of relation to our age as Dante, Shakespeare and Goethe bore to theirs, Kafka would be the first one would think of" (New York Public Library's Books of the Century, 13).
Synopsis
The Metamorphosis is a novella by Franz Kafka, first published in 1915. It is often cited as one of the seminal works of short fiction of the 20th century and is widely studied in colleges and universities across the western world; Elias Canetti described it as "one of the few great and perfect works of the poetic imagination written during this century". The story begins with a traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa, waking to find himself transformed into a vermin.
Reviews
On Dec 7 2018, a reader said:
Reviewing 'The Metamorphosis' would be shimmering hubris, but it is tempting here to explain something about Ottomar Starke's dust jacket illustration. It was an essential part of Kafka's design not to identify the creature thar Gregor Samsa wakes up to be. In a letter to publishers 'Kurt Wolf' on Oct 25th 1915 he wrote: "It has... occurred to me that [Starke] might want to draw the insect itself. Not that, please, not that! I do not wish to restrict his scope, but I wish only to request it as a result of my better understanding of the story, as is natural. The insect itself cannot be drawn. It cannot be drawn even as if seen from a distance.". Few enough subsequent illustrators have respected his wishes...
(Log in or Create an Account first!)
Details
- Bookseller
- Raptis Rare Books
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 129658
- Title
- Die Verwandlung [The Metamorphosis].
- Author
- Kafka, Franz
- Book Condition
- Used
- Publisher
- Kurt Wolff
- Place of Publication
- Leipzig
- Date Published
- 1916
- Keywords
- Franz Kafka First Edition, The Metamorphosis First Edition
- Bookseller catalogs
- Literature;
Terms of Sale
Raptis Rare Books
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed.
About the Seller
Raptis Rare Books
Biblio member since 2012
Palm Beach, Florida
About Raptis Rare Books
Founded by Matthew and Adrienne Raptis, Raptis Rare Books is an antiquarian book firm that specializes in literature, children's books, economics, photo books, signed and inscribed books, and landmark books in all fields. Our business model is simple: we strive to handle books that are in exceptional condition and to provide exceptional customer service.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Rebacked
- having had the material covering the spine replaced. ...
- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
- Octavo
- Another of the terms referring to page or book size, octavo refers to a standard printer's sheet folded four times, producing...
- Wrappers
- The paper covering on the outside of a paperback. Also see the entry for pictorial wraps, color illustrated coverings for...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
Frequently asked questions
This Book’s Categories
May the Fourth Be With You!
As the Star Wars franchise continues to grow, change, and churn out money-making film after film now under the control of Disney, we can bet that the desire to own Star Wars collectibles will also continue to grow. Check out our gallery of goodies from a galaxy far, far away...
Collecting Disneyana
Welcome to the wonderful world of collecting Walt Disney! From letters signed by Disney himself to classic children’s books or ephemera, be sure to check out some of the collectible Walt Disney books on Biblio!
