The Metamorphosis

By: Franz Kafka

Narrated by: Ralph Cosham

Length: 2 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

“One morning, as Gregor Samsa was waking up from anxious dreams, he discovered that in bed he had been changed into a monstrous verminous bug.”

With this startling, bizarre, yet surprisingly funny first sentence, Kafka begins his masterpiece, The Metamorphosis. It is the story of a young traveling salesman who, transformed overnight into a giant, beetle-like insect, becomes an object of disgrace to his family, an outsider in his own home, a quintessentially alienated man. Rather than being surprised at the transformation, the members of his family despise it as an impending burden upon themselves.

A harrowing - though absurdly comic - meditation on human feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and isolation, The Metamorphosis has taken its place as one of the most widely read and influential works of 20th-century fiction. As W. H. Auden wrote, “Kafka is important to us because his predicament is the predicament of modern man.”

FRANZ KAFKA (1883–1924), one of the major fiction writers of the twentieth century, was born to a middle-class German-speaking Jewish family in Prague. His unique body of writing, much of which is incomplete and was mainly published posthumously, is considered by some people to be among the most influential in Western literature, inspiring such writers as Albert Camus, Rex Warner, and Samuel Beckett.

©Public Domain (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“In The Metamorphosis Kafka reached the height of his mastery: he wrote something which he could never surpass, because there is nothing which The Metamorphosis could be surpassed by - one of the few great, perfect poetic works of this century.” (Elias Canetti, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1981)

old scifi is so different

I love old scifi. It never follows our expected patterns. This isn't a "Horror" as we know it today and it is a bit sad but still very interesting.

Amazing

Kafka. Dang. If you haven't read this, its a really quick listen but not a book that you quit thinking about for a long time. Why did he write this? What does it mean? How the hell did he do it so well?

funny and fast paced without being jarring

what can one say about franz? nothing that he wouldn't have laughed at you for.

Something to ponder

Finished it in one day because the story draws you in and you want to find out what's next.

it's unusual for sure..

I'll need some time to think about what it all means.

Grotesque and wonderful.

Gregor Samsa is transformed into some horrible creature. He had been the bread winner for his parents and sister, but after waking up one morning transformed into a beetle-like creature, he can no longer work or communicate with his family. Ultimately he dies and his family seems relieved that he is finally gone.

Is this story to be taken literally, or is it a metaphor? Did Gregor become something his family couldn't understand, or refused to accept? Was their love for him based on the income he provided? Also, it is interesting that Gregor had trouble understanding and coming to terms with himself.

I like that there are so many interpretations of this story, and that each person will make an interpretation based on their own experiences.

Narrator Ralph Cosham has a slightly British accent, and bouncing monotone delivery. Unfortunately I don't like that sort of thing.

loved it

it's always refreshing to have something like this book to relisten too. It's absurdity it's delicious.

Kafka

Metamorphosis is a compelling read that’s difficult to put down. This was definitely worth purchasing.

An unexpected bug's life

One of those stories where I may perhaps have expected too much before reading. Kafka's novella presents a unique and thought-provoking narrative. It explores themes of isolation, alienation, and the human reactions through the experiences of both Gregor and his family as they grapple with the unexpected transformation.

To me the allegory that stayed with me is one of what happens when a "severe illness" prevents our protagonist from providing the people in his life with what they have come to expect from him. A quick read, Kafka's writing style is notable for its clarity and attention to detail as he skillfully depicts Gregor's inner turmoil and the external reactions of his family.

What's so great about a bug?

I mean, this was a rather boring book..only redeeming feature is that it was short! is there something I'm missing here?..boooring

Stupid story

Well Kafka did it again could’ve gone all sorts of places, had sorts of adventures and all sorts of other things could’ve happened, but like with other authors held up so high, the story is absolute garbage. What a pitiful reflection on the state of our society...
The narrator did great and thank God it was short