The special issue published in Spanish contains more than twenty studies focusing on the presence of Kafka’s work in the Hispano-American literature of the 20th and 21st century. The studies were written by renowned authors from eight countries from Europe and America. The editor of this Hispanic-focused issue is Prof Anna Housková from the Department of Romance Studies at CU FA.
This collection of studies follows up on the international symposium “K de Kafka” which was held by the Department of Romance Studies at CU FA last year. Franz Kafka deeply resonated with writers from Latin America, as he is a crucial and, according to Mexican author Carlos Fuentes, “absolutely essential writer of the horrific twentieth century.” It would not be accurate to say that Latin America, a borderland of the western civilization, was influenced by Kafka, but rather it has greatly admired him and identified with him.
The introductory essay by Saúl Sosnowski, a prominent professor of Latin American literature, author, and Jewish culture expert, is followed by the first section of studies which focuses on the early reception of Kafka’s work in this region. It begins with a persuasive contribution to the search for the translator of “The Metamorphosis” (1925), as its translation into Spanish has been wrongly attributed to Borges. The largest part of the book focuses on specific Latin American writers, both world-renowned (J. J. Arreola, R. Bolaño, N. Parra and others) and lesser known, and their relationship to Kafka. Some studies touch on the political context or the links between Kafka’s work and the style of magic realism. The last chapter describes the interest in Kafkaesque inspiration among the Latin American writers of the 21st century, which is, surprisingly, very strong.
With this issue, the World of Literature magazine continues its long-standing edition of special issues published in foreign languages.
You may find the publications and articles here and you can buy the ebook at the Faculty of Arts e-shop.
