The Castle

De: Franz Kafka

Narrado por: George Guidall

On his deathbed, Franz Kafka asked that all his unpublished manuscripts be burned. Fortunately, his request was ignored, allowing such works as The Trial to earn recognition among the literary masterpieces of the 20th century. This brilliant new translation of The Castle captures comedic elements and visual imagery that earlier interpretations missed. A traveler known only as K. is promised a job as land-surveyor by officials of the Castle. But when K. arrives in town to claim his position, he learns that owing to a clerical error, his services aren't needed after all. Seeking an explanation, K. endures increasingly frustrating setbacks as he strives in vain to simply make contact with someone, anyone, from the Castle. Saturated with absurdist humor, this haunting novel has fascinated and puzzled readers throughout the world. Some critics praise it as the century's great religious parable, while others interpret it as indisputably antireligious. Critically acclaimed narrator George Guidall sheds light on this dreamlike tale, illuminating the limitless nuances of Kafka's writing.©1958, 1968, 1982 Alfred A. Knopf (P)2004 Recorded Books

Pointed pointlessness

Not for everyone. Ends mid-sentence, unfinished, with plenty of threads left dangling. At no point will you feel like you have a firm grasp on where the story is going. Maybe that's the point. And maybe that point is worth thinking about.

best version

This is simply amazing. I couldn't wait to get back to it in my 4 hour drives. Couldn't wait! The one thing that may help one get it is that the norman bates-like voice of the landlady and other female parts is in fact exactly faithful to the text. I couldn't recommend this more highly and I commend the reader and producers!!!

excellent

I found the narration to be very good. Kafka is, as ever, wonderfully clever, funny and *unique*. But it is hard to keep up with sometimes. This audiobook surpassed my expectations. Excellent!

I can't remark on the quality of the translation that another reviewer has complained about. I have read the standard english version and this seems to be the same.

Amazing

Even without an ending, this was great and worth my time. I’m glad I read it.

Kafkaesque

This has been the most difficult book to get through. I’m not sure I’m motivated to finish it regardless of the amazing writing and the performance of the narrator.

there is no end! keep away from it!

there is no end! keep away from it!
there is no end! keep away from it!

Obscure, enigmatic, and not for everyone

I'm a Kafka fan, and I read The Castle before hearing the audiobook. This is definitely not for everyone -- long, rambling, seemingly without direction. Many of the passages feel more like a philosophy treatise than a story. It is an unfinished novel, literally ending in the middle of a scene, which leaves one very unsatisfied.

The narration is excellent, although a Kafka novel isn't something you can breeze through -- there are times when you need to stop and let a particular sentence sink in. In many ways I preferred to read the actual book, and take my time with it. This is a book that makes you work -- there are more questions than answers, and no real solutions. Like trudging through snow, it can be both wearying and exhilarating (not to mention deep.)

Before he died, Kafka told his friends how he intended The Castle to end, and that information would have been very helpful to include here. I also recommend The Trial as a much more accessible Kafka novel, which deals with many of the same themes (the individual struggle against a frustrating and obscure bureaucracy).

it's Kafka 🤔

Probably a better read than listen! however the narrator was enjoyable on bureaucratic ramblings on, as bureaucrats do

Beautifully Read, Hilarious

Sometimes you have to be in the right mood to appreciate the classics. When compared to Kafka's other stories, The Castle is sort of a positive-thinking story of the hero's encounter with the mysterious bureaucracy (which surrounds all of us). I had read it before and enjoyed it, but this time I found it rolling-in-the-aisles funny. If you think about it, how certain are you about the structure of the world that surrounds you? Who really controls it, if anyone? Kafka is one of the highest of the high authors, and this is one of his best books.

It was interesting

Listening to the book really brought back memories of 2 years that I lived in Germany. Essentially the book is about people who are quite intelligent when it comes to rationalizing, reasoning, and engineering, but the same people lack willpower, ummph or maybe just fortitude to go outside of the narrow parameters of the rulebooks and beaurocracies that keep them imprisoned. And the culture disdains anyone who undermines the rules and abhores anyone who does not properly respect the strict rules of the culture. The people have no capability to think outside of the box and adapt. Kafka's message was clear, I believe he wrote the book in the 1920's before the German's freely elected Adolf Hitler. If you want a glimpse into the muddled affairs of the still prevalent German political structure, listen to this book.