Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis (German: Die Verwandlung) is a novella written by Franz Kafka which was first published in 1915. One of Kafka's best-known works, Metamorphosis tells the story of salesman Gregor Samsa, who wakes one morning to find himself inexplicably transformed into a huge insect (German: ungeheueres Ungeziefer, lit. "monstrous vermin") and subsequently struggles to adjust to this new condition. The novella has been widely discussed among literary critics, with differing interpretations being offered. In popular culture and adaptations of the novella, the insect is commonly depicted as a cockroach. With a length of about 70 printed pages over three chapters, it is the longest of the stories Kafka considered complete and published during his lifetime. The text was first published in 1915 in the October issue of the journal Die weißen Blätter under the editorship of René Schickele. The first edition in book form appeared in December 1915 in the series Der jüngste Tag, edited by Kurt Wolff.
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What you might want to know about Metamorphosis
The questions readers send us most often, answered without spoilers.
Gregor Samsa wakes up to find himself transformed into a giant insect. He worries about being late for work. His family, dependent on his income, slowly turns from concern to revulsion to something colder.
Yes. Metamorphosis (Die Verwandlung) was published in 1915 and is in the public domain. The original German text is freely available; English translations vary in copyright depending on the translator.
No. Metamorphosis is around 70 pages and stylistically clear in most translations. The premise (a salesman wakes up as a giant insect) is famous, but the prose itself is accessible. Susan Bernofsky's recent Norton translation is widely recommended.
Metamorphosis was written by Franz Kafka, published in 1915 by Dtv.
Metamorphosis is 88 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, Metamorphosis takes most readers 1 to 2 hours to finish.
Metamorphosis is a standalone novel by Franz Kafka, not part of a series.
Metamorphosis is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.
