The Complete Stories brings together all of Kafka’s stories, from the classic tales such as “The Metamorphosis,” “In the Penal Colony,” and “A Hunger Artist” to shorter pieces and fragments that Max Brod, Kafka’s literary executor, released after Kafka’s death. With the exception of his three novels, the whole of Kafka’s narrative work is included in this volume.
*The above link is an affiliate link. When you purchase through our affiliate links, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support! Learn more
NEC's view
Reading through Kafka's works, you see not only his preoccupations with alienation, power, and absurdity, but also the precision of his craft.
Of all the stories, "A Hunger Artist" is the one that has stayed with us most. Its portrayal of a man whose art of fasting becomes misunderstood, commodified, and ultimately forgotten feels hauntingly relevant. We love the starkness of it, the way Kafka manages to hold both dignity and futility in a single figure, and how it forces you to confront the costs of devotion, performance, and invisibility.
We think of this collection as essential, not just because Kafka is foundational, but because the stories still cut into modern life with uncanny accuracy. They are brief, strange, and unforgettable, each one a small portal into the anxieties of existence.
