> Which 1915 book has a main character named Gregor Samsa?And the answer: The Metamorphosis. Photo credit: Portsmouth Point.Written in 1912 by Austrian author Franz Kafka,but published three years later, The Metamorphosis tells the story of salesmanGregor Samsa, who wakes one morning to find himself inexplicably transformedinto a huge insect. Gregor and his family struggle to adjust to his newcondition.Franz Kafka was a plagued, talented writer, whose recognition did not occuruntil after his death. The German author grew up in an unsteady household, witha father who dominated his life with abuse. While he had always been a talentedwriter, the profession was out of the question to his father. As such, Kafkaspent much time in jobs without meaning to him. While working as a lawyer, andlater in an insurance firm, Kafka wrote only three collections of short stories,and three novels. All of his novels ended unfinished due to Kafka'sdissatisfaction with them. One of the major keys to understanding Kafka is to fathom the nature of hisrelationship with his father. While Kafka never wrote directly about his fatherin his works, the psychology of his novels and arbitrary punitive notions thatset the tone as so bitterly hopeless are largely drawn from the abuse youngKafka suffered. At one point in his life, Kafka wrote a 47-page letter to hisfather, trying to explain the harm he had inflicted and consequentlyinternalized. However, his mother returned the letter to Kafka, never to be seenby his father. Kafka is a monument in German literary history, and a harsh reminder of the illsof the world. Kafka is one of the few writers truly able to tap into theuniquely human experience of reconnecting with one's emotions. He once wrote: > "A book must be an axe for the frozen sea within us." Learn more about this legendary writer below.