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The Metamorphosis
- Narrated by: Ralph Cosham
- Length: 2 hrs and 3 mins
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The Metamorphosis
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Summary
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.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- martin white
- 31-01-22
short but sweet
A funny little tale, and I couldn't help feel sorry for the protagonist who wakes up as a bug. He reminded me of a shy dog/naughty child. The ending ends ambiguously as I am sure Kafka intended. I loved this cute, short and fun yarn and you can takeaway what you feel from it and not what you are told to think. A classic for a reason
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Megan
- 08-09-21
Beautifully read, captivating despite its fantastical premise
Beautifully read. It’s a strange and surreal story, but somehow psychologically compelling. It’s also a very short book!
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Anna
- 08-09-21
A not so exciting classic
Quick "read" but not too exciting, very well written but did not live up to the hype.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ms. L. Benjamin
- 14-09-22
Well-narrated classic
It's a long time since I read this and I really liked it. An unusual book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- ryan bell
- 27-04-23
delightfully absurd!
Amazing to think this was written over 100 years ago, and the absolute absurdity given the times!! a fantastic book that I never tire of reading!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kindle Customer.
- 21-06-23
Finally heard it!
I've been meaning to read this for some time and then recently somebody was saying it was one of their favourite books and then I noticed it on Audible so decided to try it as an audiobook. I think I was expecting something more like The Fly but it was nothing like it and I really enjoyed it.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 13-10-22
Very entertaining and well read
This was a blast. A classic only 2 hours long. I have read this book 15 years ago but forgot all the details. It was well worth the time to listen to this entertaining tale. The reader has a fantastic voice and when he quotes certain characters changes his voice to better bring the characters to life. Well worth the listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- andrea Johnson
- 24-01-23
SUPERB
WOW! First time I’ve listened/read anything by Kafka. Absolutely blown away! Surreal and so sad!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- "call_me_fred"
- 18-06-23
It was written in 1915!!
And yet its still so fresh! Absolute credit to the writing. So pleased it's not dated.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Bruno Keyworth
- 16-09-23
Makes you think
It’s quite an odd story, but it’s well written and does make you think. It’s fairly short as well, so worth a listen if you’re looking for something.
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