If you enjoy the works of Franz Kafka, you might find these 15 authors captivating as well:
Borges is famed for his labyrinthine tales that blur the line between reality and fantasy.
His works, such as “Ficciones” and “Labyrinths,” explore complex themes and exhibit a surreal quality reminiscent of Kafka’s dream-like narratives.
Murakami’s novels often feature ordinary characters in extraordinary and surreal situations, much like Kafka’s protagonists.
Books like “Kafka on the Shore” and “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle” offer a mix of the mundane with the bizarre.
Known for his exploration of existentialism and the absurd, Camus’ “The Stranger” and “The Myth of Sisyphus” tackle themes of isolation and the meaning of life, echoing Kafka’s inquiries into human existence.
Beckett’s stripped-down prose and existential themes in works like “Waiting for Godot” and “Molloy” resonate with Kafka’s exploration of human despair and the absurdity of life.
Though primarily a Southern Gothic writer, O’Connor’s stories often delve into the grotesque and absurdity of human nature, similar to Kafka. “Wise Blood” and her short stories evoke a stark and unsettling atmosphere.
Hesse’s novels, such as “Steppenwolf” and “The Glass Bead Game,” explore themes of individuality, spiritual crisis, and self-discovery, paralleling Kafka’s existential quests in literature.
This Nobel Prize-winning author’s works, including “Blindness” and “The Double,” offer surreal, almost nightmarish visions of society that Kafka readers will find intriguing.
Bernhard’s bleak and sardonic narrative voice in novels like “Wittgenstein’s Nephew” and “The Loser” mirrors Kafka’s dark humor and exploration of alienation.
Known for his philosophical and surreal science fiction, Dick’s novels like “Ubik” and “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” often feature characters questioning their reality, much like Kafka’s protagonists.
This Polish writer’s prose is filled with rich imagery and dream-like qualities. His collection “The Street of Crocodiles” captures a unique surreal world akin to Kafka’s otherworldly storytelling.
Bolaño’s novels, such as “2666” and “The Savage Detectives,” blend the surreal with the real, featuring vast, sometimes labyrinthine plots that Kafka devotees might appreciate.
Grass’s “The Tin Drum” offers a satirical, nightmarish view of 20th-century history through the eyes of a peculiar protagonist, reflecting Kafka’s sense of the absurd found in his works.
Sartre’s existentialist novel “Nausea” provides an introspective and philosophical viewpoint on the meaning of existence, reminiscent of Kafka’s contemplations on the human condition.
Dostoevsky’s psychological depth and exploration of morality in novels like “Crime and Punishment” and “The Brothers Karamazov” offer a dark, introspective journey that Kafka enthusiasts may enjoy.
This Albanian author’s books, such as “The Palace of Dreams” and “Broken April,” often feature Gothic and surreal elements, reflecting the shadowy, dreamlike quality of Kafka’s fiction.
Diving into the works of these authors should provide a rich variety of experiences that echo the unique and enigmatic qualities that make Kafka’s writing so compelling. Happy reading!