Deníky

Deníky, meaning "diaries" in Czech, refers to a significant collection of personal writings by Franz Kafka. These diaries, spanning several notebooks, were written primarily between 1910 and 1923. They offer an unparalleled insight into Kafka's inner life, his struggles with writing, his complex relationships, and his profound existential anxieties. The entries are not always chronological and often consist of fragmented thoughts, observations, dreams, and literary explorations.

Kafka did not intend for his diaries to be published, and his will stipulated that they should be destroyed. However, his friend and literary executor, Max Brod, defied this wish and published them posthumously. This decision was crucial for the preservation of Kafka's literary legacy, as the diaries are considered as important as his fictional works for understanding his unique worldview and artistic process.

The content of Deníky reveals Kafka's self-critical nature, his constant battle against creative block, and his search for meaning in a world he often perceived as alienating and absurd. They are a crucial source for literary scholars and readers seeking to comprehend the depth and complexity of one of the 20th century's most influential writers. The raw, introspective nature of the entries makes them a compelling and often unsettling read.