Franz Kafka's insomnia and parasomnias

Abstract

Franz Kafka (1883–1924) was one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. His large collection of diaries and correspondence is a precious information source about Kafka's life and literary work. For Franz Kafka, insomnia was a literary methodWe read with great interest the Focal Point by Antonio Perciaccante and Alessia Coralli1 about Franz Kafka's insomnia and parasomnias. For all his writing life, Kafka had insomnia and the hypnagogic hallucinations arising from his lack of sleep shaped much of his writing. However, to conclude, as the authors do, that “The Metamorphosis” can be read as a metaphor for ill effects of insomnia would be incorrect. Full-Text PDF