Franz Kafka (1883-1924) was a German-speaking Bohemian novelist and short story writer, widely regarded as one of the major figures of 20th-century literature. His works, such as The Metamorphosis, The Trial, and The Castle, are filled with themes of alienation, existential anxiety, guilt, and absurdity. Kafka's unique writing style, combining elements of realism and surrealism, has had a profound influence on generations of writers and thinkers. He is remembered as a literary genius who explored the depths of the human condition and the struggles of the individual against an often hostile society.