Franz Kafka
Born 1883 · Age 142
German-language Jewish Czech writer and novelist (1883–1924). Trained as a lawyer, worked in insurance while writing seminal modernist works including The Metamorphosis, The Trial, and The Castle. Died of tuberculosis aged 40. Much of his fame came posthumously.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Prague (Old Town Square area)
Franz Kafka was born to Hermann and Julie Kafka in Prague, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Started elementary school (German boys' elementary)
Attended the German-language elementary school at Masná Street, Prague (Masný trh/Fleischmarkt).
Admitted to Altstädter Deutsches Gymnasium
Entered the rigorous classics-oriented state gymnasium (Kinský Palace) in Old Town Square; German was the language of instruction.
Bar mitzvah
Kafka's Jewish education culminated in his bar mitzvah at age 13; he largely disliked regular synagogue attendance.
Admitted to Charles-Ferdinand University (Prague)
Entered the Deutsche Karl-Ferdinands-Universität; initially registered for philosophy and chemistry, switched to law after two weeks.
Completed Matura (secondary school exams)
Completed his gymnasium studies and passed the Matura exams.
Met Max Brod — lifelong friend
Met fellow law student Max Brod at university; Brod became Kafka’s close friend, promoter and eventual literary executor.
Completed obligatory unpaid year as law clerk
Performed the required unpaid service as a law clerk for civil and criminal courts after graduation.
Awarded Doctor of Law (Dr. jur.)
Kafka received his doctorate in law from the German University in Prague on 18 June 1906.
Hired at Assicurazioni Generali (insurance)
On 1 November 1907 Kafka began working as a clerk at the Italian insurance company Assicurazioni Generali in Prague.
First short stories published in literary magazines
Only a minority of Kafka's works were published in his lifetime; his early stories started to appear in literary magazines while he worked at the institute.
Joined Worker's Accident Insurance Institute
Two weeks after resigning, Kafka began work at the Worker's Accident Insurance Institute for the Kingdom of Bohemia (Úrazová pojišťovna dělnická pro Čechy v Praze); this job allowed afternoon time for writing.
Resigned from Assicurazioni Generali
Resigned from the Italian insurance company on 15 July 1908 because the hours made writing difficult.
Period of exploration: writing and Jewish identity
Kafka explored Jewish themes and his literary vocation more intensely, attending lectures and theatre performances; began working intensely on longer fiction like Amerika.
Partnered in Prager Asbestwerke Hermann & Co.
In late 1911 Kafka and his brother-in-law Karl Hermann became partners in the first asbestos factory in Prague, using Elli's dowry money.
Adopted vegetarianism
Around this period Kafka became a vegetarian, a personal lifestyle choice that persisted.
Became engaged with Yiddish theatre and literature
After seeing a Yiddish theatre performance in Oct 1911, Kafka immersed himself in Yiddish language and literature for about six months, deepening his interest in Judaism.
Published Contemplation (collection)
Kafka's first story collection, Contemplation (Betrachtung / Stimmungen), was published in 1912 — one of the few collections published during his lifetime.
Wrote 'Das Urteil' (The Judgment) — rapid composition
Shortly after meeting Felice Bauer Kafka wrote 'Das Urteil' in a single night; this was part of a highly productive creative period.
Met Felice Bauer
Met Felice Bauer at Max Brod's home on 13 August 1912; the relationship developed largely through extensive correspondence and two later engagements.
Family moved to larger apartment
In November 1913 the Kafka family moved into a larger apartment; overcrowding and family dynamics continued to affect Kafka.
Wrote The Trial (composition period)
Kafka worked on the novel The Trial around 1914; the work remained unfinished and was published posthumously.
Moved into sister Valli's former apartment (first time living alone)
At age 31 (roughly 1914) Kafka moved into Valli's former apartment and for the first time lived by himself, a quieter environment for writing.
Dissolved engagement with Felice Bauer in public
On 12 July 1914 Kafka publicly dissolved his engagement with Felice Bauer in front of witnesses at the Askanischer Hof.
Received military draft notice; deferred
Around 1915 Kafka received a draft notice for World War I, but his employers arranged a deferment because his work was considered essential government service.
Published 'The Metamorphosis' (novella) in Die Weissen Blätter
Mid-October 1915 'Die Verwandlung' (The Metamorphosis) was published in the literary magazine Die Weissen Blätter; Kafka reportedly didn't see the galleys prior to publication.
Summer leave/vacation to Marienbad
In summer 1916 Kafka was granted time off by his employers and took a vacation at Marienbad; a short break that had a positive effect on him.
Moved to Zürau (Siřem) for months; wrote Zürau notes
After diagnosis Kafka spent a few months in the village of Zürau where he kept notebooks, later yielding the 109 Zürau aphorisms.
Attempted enlistment blocked by medical problems
Kafka tried to join the military but was prevented due to medical problems associated with his tuberculosis.
Diagnosed with tuberculosis
Kafka began coughing up blood and was diagnosed with tuberculosis in August 1917; illness became a major factor in his life thereafter.
Broke off engagement with Felice Bauer (final)
Kafka broke off his engagement to Felice Bauer for the second and final time in December 1917.
Put on pension by the Worker's Accident Insurance Institute
In 1918 Kafka was placed on a pension by his employer because of his tuberculosis and spent much of the rest of his life in sanatoriums.
Contracted (or affected by) the 1918 influenza (Spanish flu) outbreak
Sources indicate Kafka suffered or was affected by the Spanish flu around 1918, compounding his health problems.
Published A Country Doctor (story collection)
Kafka's collection A Country Doctor appeared in 1919—another of the few books published while he was alive.
Wrote 'Letter to His Father' (Brief an den Vater)
Composed the lengthy and revealing Letter to His Father in 1919 (it was never delivered), documenting his conflicted relationship with Hermann Kafka.
Engaged to Julie Wohryzek (relationship ultimately failed)
Around 1920 Kafka became engaged to Julie Wohryzek, a hotel chambermaid; his father objected and the planned marriage never occurred.
Began relationship and intense correspondence with Milena Jesenská
Kafka started a passionate but ultimately unfulfilled relationship with Czech journalist Milena Jesenská; their letters were later published.
Retirement (alternative account) — retired with pension
Some sources state Kafka formally retired from the insurance institute in 1922 with a pension, though other accounts place pensioning in 1918.
Began or worked on The Castle; health declining
Kafka worked on Das Schloss (The Castle) around 1922; by August 1922 his health had seriously declined and he reduced writing activity.
Wrote late stories including 'A Hunger Artist'
During late 1922–1924 Kafka wrote several late stories, among them 'Ein Hungerkünstler' (A Hunger Artist), which were published shortly after his death.
Met Dora Diamant at Graal-Müritz (Baltic Sea)
During a July 1923 vacation Kafka met Dora Diamant, a kindergarten teacher; she became his lover and companion.
Moved to Berlin to live with Dora Diamant (Sep 1923–Mar 1924)
Kafka briefly relocated to Berlin in September 1923 to live with Dora Diamant in an attempt to escape family influence and focus on writing.
Returned briefly to Prague from Berlin
After Berlin stay, Kafka briefly returned to Prague as his health worsened during the spring of 1924.
Died of tuberculosis near Vienna (Kierling clinic)
Franz Kafka died on 3 June 1924 in Kierling, near Vienna, of complications from tuberculosis; he was buried in the New Jewish Cemetery in Prague.
Posthumous publication: The Hunger Artist (short stories collection)
Against Kafka's instructions to destroy his papers, Max Brod edited and published collections shortly after Kafka's death; The Hunger Artist appeared in Aug 1924 (published posthumously).
Posthumous publication: The Trial
Kafka's unfinished novel The Trial was published posthumously by Max Brod in 1925, becoming a foundational work of modern literature.
Posthumous publication: The Castle
The Castle (Das Schloss) was published posthumously in 1926, edited and released by Max Brod from Kafka's manuscripts.
Posthumous publication: Amerika (The Man Who Disappeared)
Kafka's fragmented novel Amerika (also titled The Man Who Disappeared) was published posthumously in 1927.
Dora Diamant's Kafka papers seized by Gestapo
In 1933 the journals and notebooks that Dora Diamant had kept (contrary to Kafka's instructions) were confiscated by the Gestapo and have never been recovered.
Sisters persecuted and deported during WWII (family tragedy)
Kafka's sisters Elli, Valli, and Ottla were deported and are believed to have been murdered in the Holocaust (Elli and Valli in 1942; Ottla in 1943).
Major modern biography series: Reiner Stach (Years of Insight) published in English
Reiner Stach's definitive three-volume Kafka biography (final volume covering 1916–1924) was translated and published in English (third vol. 2013/2015), winning translation awards and renewed scholarly attention.
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