The Trial (Penguin Modern Classics) (Paperback)

If this sounds confusing... (well) it is. Kafka keeps large chunks of the plot a secret for as long as he can, making the reader work all the more to decipher the clues that he weaves between the arcane descriptions and densely layered symbolism that is injected into every sentence that we read. Never at any point in time does Kafka allow us to gain more information than K. instead making us work just as hard to find out what is going on in this diabolical world of autocracy and mistrust. Anyone who has seen Orson Welles’ adaptation of the book (or for that matter, Terry Gilliam’s cult classic Brazil) will have a visual template for the kind of world that the writer suggest through his use of words and the imagery they create.

The narrative is purposely multi-layered and features moments of both horror and tension, but also has a strong streak of darkly comic absurdity and the kind of social surrealism that people like Buñuel and Greenaway do so well... whilst the references to detective fiction and the mystery genre is general, are the aspects that made me want to take this out of the library in the first place. Kafka’s work is very demanding, so don’t be surprised if it takes you a couple of attempts to really relax into the mood and intent of the story. However, once you finish this book, you’ll understand why so many people proclaim it a pinnacle of literary genius, and you will certainly be glad that you took the time to experience it.

Throughout the book, we are never told exactly what K. is on trial for, and for a good reason too, Kafka was a brilliant writer. K. wakes one morning and is arrested for an unknown crime, but never actually convicted or placed on trial using the real sense of the word, by that I mean Judge and Jury etc. but ordered to report to a court every so often. This ordeal seems to prove impossible and we soon discover that his trip appears ludicrous, and as the book develops, we start to realise that the trial for K. has turned into a hellish nightmare of dead ends and wild characters.

K.’s frustration and paranoia is something, which, Kafka exploits to outstanding effect, in this humorous, satirical tale of one man struggling against matters, which have already been decided.

Kafka's writing style is extremely effortless, which makes reading this book even more enjoyable, you are not tied down to long descriptive passages, but descriptions of places are perfected enough to envisage the atmosphere and the surroundings. I would recommend this book to anyone who has never read any Kafka before, because although slightly more complex than Metamorphosis, it still remains an excellent book, which allows you to appreciate the author to a great degree. It also persuaded me to go out and read more books by Frank Kafka, a truly excellent modern classic.