The University of Oxford will hold a yearlong celebration to mark 100 years since the death of a writer from Prague.
They will host a number of academic and public events as part of the #OxfordKafka24 campaign, celebrating Franz Kafka.
Alongside a new free exhibition at the Bodleian’s Weston Library titled Kafka: Making of an Icon, students and the public will also receive a limited-edition re-imprint of Kafka's work, The Metamorphosis.
Bodleian Libraries possesses the largest Kafka archive worldwide and the university is a recognised authority in Kafka studies.
Richard Ovenden OBE, Bodley’s Librarian, said: "100 years after his death, readers across the globe continue to learn from and be inspired by Kafka’s life and works – many of the originals of which are held in the Bodleian’s collections.
"This is a perfect opportunity to celebrate his legacy and enduring influence."
Kafka's posthumous recognition has led to a global audience.
His writings cover motifs of alienation, relationships, and transformation, offering insights into the human condition and resonating with various cultural contexts.
Kennedy Aliu, vice president liberation and equality at Oxford Student Union, said: "Growing up in Lagos Nigeria, I discovered Kafka’s reflections on the complex and mundane experiences of his life carried a universal resonance."
A new limited-edition imprint of The Metamorphosis will be given to all Oxford undergraduates and postgraduates as part of a wider #OxfordReadsKafka initiative to encourage engagement and debate.
Student recipients, across disciplines ranging from Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences, Medical Sciences, to Humanities and Social Sciences, will have the books delivered to their colleges in the summer term and will be given an option to regift the text to interested parties.
Professor Martin Williams, pro-vice-chancellor of education at Oxford University, said: "#OxfordReadsKafka offers all our students a brilliant opportunity to do just that, by sharing their own perspectives on Kafka’s iconic text, and reflecting on the interpretations of others.
"It’s a great addition to our growing efforts to add breadth and variety to an Oxford education."
The Kafka: Making of an Icon exhibition will run from May 30 to October 27 at the Bodleian’s Weston Library.
It aims to put Kafka's original works under the spotlight, showcasing his notebooks, drawings, letters, and manuscripts of his unfinished novels like Das Schloss (The Castle) and Der Verschollene (Amerika).
Further #OxfordKafka24 programme events include the release of Kafkaesque stories collection by various authors, interactive events under #OxfordreadsKafka, a public reading of The Metamorphosis at the Sheldonian Theatre on June 3, and a Kafka-themed street fair on Broad Street on the same day.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel