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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.
About the author
Franz Kafka (July 3, 1883-June 3, 1924) was born in Prague. He was one of the great German-language authors and short story writers of the 20th century, whose extraordinary body of writing, a lot of it incomplete and published after his death, in spite of his wish that it be destroyed, has become iconic in western literature. His most popular pieces of writing include his short story Die Verwandlung (The Metamorphosis) and his two books, Der Prozess (The Trial) and the incomplete novel Das Schloß (The Castle). Kafka's works portray the fundamental silliness of modern society, particularly the impersonal nature of administration and democracy. Kafka's work represents a great example of the modern concern with a person's place in society.
