Synopsis

Approximately 1912

Franz Kafka, near death in 1919, asks his friend Max Brod to burn all his works after he dies. Despite Kafka’s plea, Brod decides not to destroy Kafka’s writings, leading to Kafka’s posthumous fame. The narrative shifts to the present day in a typical English household, where Kafka and Brod inexplicably appear. The central characters include Sydney, an insurance man obsessed with Kafka, and his wife Linda, who unwittingly becomes part of the surreal happenings.

The play humorously explores themes of fame, literary legacy, and the intersection of private and public personas. Bennett’s signature style combines satire and dark comedy, as the characters grapple with Kafka’s unwanted celebrity status and Brod’s betrayal. The dialogue is sharp and layered with irony, providing a critical commentary on how society values and interprets literary figures.