Amerika (Masterplots II: World Fiction Series)
At a glance:
- Author: Franz Kafka
- First Published: 1927
- Type of Work: Magical realism
- Time of Work: The early twentieth century
- Setting: Chiefly New York City and unspecified environs
- Principal Characters: Karl Rossmann, The Stoker, Uncle Jacob, Robinson, Grete Mitzelbach, Therese Berchtold, Brunelda
- Genres: Long fiction, Magical Realism
- Subjects: New York, North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., United States or Americans, Traveling or travelers, Twentieth century, New York City, Antiheroes, Immigration or emigration, Adventure
- Locales: New York, NY
The Novel
The plot of Amerika is deceptively simple, following a young immigrant’s adventures from his arrival at New York Harbor to his “disappearance” on a journey to Oklahoma. The novel remains unfinished, yet it is paradoxically complete. Karl Rossmann’s adventures—or rather his misadventures—begin even before he steps ashore. After seeing the Statue of Liberty (through Franz Kafka’s surrealistic imagination, Liberty’s torch is supplanted by a sword), Karl goes below decks to retrieve his umbrella. In typically Kafkaesque fashion, this simple...
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See Also:
Franz Kafka (Cyclopedia of World Authors)Franz Kafka (Short Fiction)Franz Kafka (Long Fiction)Franz Kafka (Dictionary of World Biography)
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