Few writers have had as great an impact as Franz Kafka. Known for depicting alienation, frustration, and the victimization of the individual by impenetrable bureaucracies, his works have given rise to the term "Kafkaesque," which people use to describe similar situations in their own lives. Although his influence has been enormous and he has secured a lasting place in contemporary culture, his writings often are inscrutable, especially for readers approaching them for the first time. Designed for undergraduates, specialists, and general readers, this encyclopedia details his life and works. Included are more than 800 alphabetically arranged entries on his works, characters, themes, family members, acquaintances, and other topics, such as: Abraham; Absurd; Animals; Bureaucracy; Colonialism; Death; Don Quixote; Sigmund Freud; Guilt; Irony; ...