The Castle

By: Franz Kafka

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

On his deathbed, Franz Kafka asked that all his unpublished manuscripts be burned. Fortunately, his request was ignored, allowing such works as The Trial to earn recognition among the literary masterpieces of the 20th century. This brilliant new translation of The Castle captures comedic elements and visual imagery that earlier interpretations missed. A traveler known only as K. is promised a job as land-surveyor by officials of the Castle. But when K. arrives in town to claim his position, he learns that owing to a clerical error, his services aren't needed after all. Seeking an explanation, K. endures increasingly frustrating setbacks as he strives in vain to simply make contact with someone, anyone, from the Castle. Saturated with absurdist humor, this haunting novel has fascinated and puzzled readers throughout the world. Some critics praise it as the century's great religious parable, while others interpret it as indisputably antireligious. Critically acclaimed narrator George Guidall sheds light on this dreamlike tale, illuminating the limitless nuances of Kafka's writing.

©1958, 1968, 1982 Alfred A. Knopf (P)2004 Recorded Books

Kafka is confused

What would have made The Castle better?

If it had been limited to the length of a poem. Not The Odyssey.

Would you ever listen to anything by Franz Kafka again?

If I did I would simply think my mind was wandering again.

Which scene was your favorite?

the Pause button

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Yes. Now I can criticize Kafka at elite dinner parties.

Any additional comments?

Read Plato instead

don't know what to say

I know now why the author asked that this book should never be printed after his death it is terrible

Too elaborate to let the text through

The reader is too impulsive, too emphatic, too weirdly singsong for this book. All the narration and conversations come out very energetic. It's like listening to a Frenchman speaking English with constant high nasal ending to every sentence. Hard to concentrate on the text.

For example, where K. has a few words with the landlord after refusing to be examined by Momus, the two, K. and the landlord, go at it quite heatedly, when the context suggests that neither had any strong interest in the other and was just bantering.

But this is much better than, at least, the other reading by Jeffrey Howard, who screeches away even more badly.

Both readings are of the new translation, which is not as good as the first translation by Edwin Muir.

My two star score is just on the reading.

Not my style

I chose this book because I really like the narrator George Guidall. He brings everything to life. But this book is made up of nothing but nonsense. He read with great gusto. If you need to have your blood pressure raised or to find your self hurrying about without knowing why, this book will do it.