Franz Kafka, born on July 3, 1883, in Prague, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is one of the most significant figures in 20th-century literature. He was born into a middle-class Jewish family, the eldest of six children. Kafka's early life was marked by a complex relationship with his authoritarian father, which deeply influenced his writing and personal identity. He pursued law at the German University in Prague, earning a doctorate in 1906, but his true passion lay in literature.

Kafka's literary career began in earnest during his twenties. He wrote prolifically, producing a body of work that would later be recognized for its unique blend of surrealism, existentialism, and absurdism. His notable works include "The Metamorphosis," a novella about a man who transforms into a giant insect, "The Trial," which explores themes of bureaucracy and alienation, and "The Castle," a novel depicting an incomprehensible bureaucratic world. Despite his limited recognition during his lifetime, Kafka's work has since become foundational in modern literature, profoundly influencing countless writers and thinkers.

In his personal life, Kafka struggled with various health issues, including tuberculosis, which ultimately led to his untimely death on June 3, 1924, in Kierling, Austria. He never married, though he had several significant relationships, including a tumultuous engagement to Felice Bauer. Kafka's complex emotional world and existential anxieties are reflected in his writings, where themes of isolation and the search for meaning dominate. His literary legacy continues to resonate, inviting readers to explore the depths of human experience and the absurdities of life.