The Airplanes in Brescia
The Complete Works of Franz Kafka Book 8 · Continental Press
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About this ebook
"The Airplanes in Brescia" ("Die Aeroplane in Brescia") is a non-fiction piece written by Franz Kafka in 1909. It was first published in the newspaper Bohemia on September 29, 1909. The work is a journalistic account of an aviation show Kafka attended in Brescia, Italy, during September of that year. This piece stands out in Kafka's oeuvre for its observational and descriptive nature, diverging from the surreal and introspective style of his fictional works. The article vividly recounts the excitement and spectacle of the aviation event, capturing the burgeoning fascination with flight during the early 20th century. Kafka details the atmosphere of the event, describing the crowds, the technological marvels of the airplanes, and the daring pilots who showcased their skills. His prose is meticulous and lively, reflecting his ability to infuse even straightforward reportage with a sense of wonder and subtle irony. "The Airplanes in Brescia" also offers a glimpse into Kafka's personal experiences and interests. The trip to Brescia was taken with his friends Max Brod and Felix Weltsch, and it marked one of the few instances where Kafka wrote about contemporary events. The piece reflects his engagement with modernity and technological progress, themes that would later surface more abstractly in his fictional works. While not as emblematic of Kafkas signature style, this article demonstrates his keen powers of observation and ability to evoke the zeitgeist of his era. This modern translation from the original German is a fresh, accessible and beautifully rendered text that brings to life Kafka's great literary work. This edition contains extra amplifying material including an illuminating afterword, a timeline of Kafka's life and works alongside of the historical events which shaped his art, and a short biography, to place this work in its socio-historical context.
About the author
A Bohemian novelist and short-story writer, Kafka's work, which fuses elements of realism and the fantastic, typically features isolated protagonists facing bizarre or surrealistic predicaments and incomprehensible socio-bureaucratic powers. His writings, such as "The Metamorphosis" and "The Trial," explore themes of alienation, existential anxiety, and guilt, and are influential in modernist literature.
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