The Unhappiness of Being a Single Man

Essential Stories

Translated by Alexander Starritt
New translations of the best stories by the one of the twentieth century's greatest and most influential writers

Kafka, whose name has generated an adjective, is one of the best loved writers of the twentieth century. Known for his dark, enigmatic stories, for the absurd nightmares he depicts, his extraordinary imaginative depth is clear in stories from 'A Hunger Artist' to 'The Verdict'.
But Kafka also wrote fizzingly funny, fresh stories, and The Unhappiness of Being a Single Man contains all the aspects of this genius: the wit and the grit; the horror and the humour; the longing and the laughing. They range from bizarre, two-sentence stories about Don Quixote to the famous brutal depiction of violence and justice that is 'In the Penal Colony'.
In a nimble new translation by the acclaimed Alexander Starritt, this collection of Kafka's essential stories shows the genius at his very best.
Translator’s Preface
A Message from the Emperor
A Short Fable
The Unhappiness of Being a Single Man
Poseidon
The Verdict
The Truth About Sancho Panza
The Bridge
The Married Couple
Before the Law
A Hunger Artist
The Trees
The New Lawyer
An Old Journal
In the Penal Colony
The Next Village
A First Heartache
A Report for an Academy
Homecoming
Jackals and Arabs
The Silence of the Sirens
The Stoker
Give up!
Franz Kafka (1883-1924) was born to Jewish parents in Prague, and wrote in German. Most of his work was published posthumously, but he is now considered one of the most influential authors of the twentieth century.

About

New translations of the best stories by the one of the twentieth century's greatest and most influential writers

Kafka, whose name has generated an adjective, is one of the best loved writers of the twentieth century. Known for his dark, enigmatic stories, for the absurd nightmares he depicts, his extraordinary imaginative depth is clear in stories from 'A Hunger Artist' to 'The Verdict'.
But Kafka also wrote fizzingly funny, fresh stories, and The Unhappiness of Being a Single Man contains all the aspects of this genius: the wit and the grit; the horror and the humour; the longing and the laughing. They range from bizarre, two-sentence stories about Don Quixote to the famous brutal depiction of violence and justice that is 'In the Penal Colony'.
In a nimble new translation by the acclaimed Alexander Starritt, this collection of Kafka's essential stories shows the genius at his very best.

Table of Contents

Translator’s Preface
A Message from the Emperor
A Short Fable
The Unhappiness of Being a Single Man
Poseidon
The Verdict
The Truth About Sancho Panza
The Bridge
The Married Couple
Before the Law
A Hunger Artist
The Trees
The New Lawyer
An Old Journal
In the Penal Colony
The Next Village
A First Heartache
A Report for an Academy
Homecoming
Jackals and Arabs
The Silence of the Sirens
The Stoker
Give up!

Author

Franz Kafka (1883-1924) was born to Jewish parents in Prague, and wrote in German. Most of his work was published posthumously, but he is now considered one of the most influential authors of the twentieth century.

Three Penguin Random House Authors Win Pulitzer Prizes

On Monday, May 5, three Penguin Random House authors were honored with a Pulitzer Prize. Established in 1917, the Pulitzer Prizes are the most prestigious awards in American letters. To date, PRH has 143 Pulitzer Prize winners, including William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, Josh Steinbeck, Ron Chernow, Anne Applebaum, Colson Whitehead, and many more. Take a look at our 2025 Pulitzer Prize

Read more

Books for LGBTQIA+ Pride Month

In June we celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual + (LGBTQIA+) Pride Month, which honors the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. Pride Month is a time to both celebrate the accomplishments of those in the LGBTQ+ community and recognize the ongoing struggles faced by many across the world who wish to live

Read more