Adalbert Stifter, Kafka’s Compatriot

From an early stage, the Prague author Otto Pick was comparing the crystal clear prose of a certain Franz Kafka with that of Adalbert Stifter. Some writers pointed out that Kafka should, in a certain sense, be regarded as the heir to Stifter. Admittedly, it was not until the end of his life that Kafka engaged with his south Bohemian fellow countryman, although he most probably came across him in school readers. He knew Stifter’s Studies (Studien; a copy of the work from Kafka’s library has been preserved to this day), and recommended that his sister Ottla should read the story Two Sisters (Zwei Schwestern), for example. The novel Indian Summer, in particular, became one of his favourite books. “Some books act like keys to strange chambers within your own castle” (1903 to Oskar Pollack.)

My father was a merchant. He lived in rented accommodation on part of the first floor of a moderately large house in the city. In the same building he also had his sales vault, his office together with the stores and other things, which he needed in order to pursue his business. 

Adalbert Stifter, Indian Summer