# Kafka and Wolfe

*The Urth list — 1 messages, 1 voices, 27 Apr 1998*

<https://urth.darkrealm.vip/thread/urth/517>

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### adam louis stephanides
*27 Apr 1998, 14:33*

> On Mon, 27 Apr 1998 alga wrote:
> For the second week, I nominate Kafka's "In the Penal Colony." With all the
> emphasis on Borges, I think Kafka has been somewhat overlooked as an
> influence on Wolfe. In my opinion, THE CASTLE has relevance to PEACE, to
> FIFTH HEAD, to "Tracking Song" and to "Seven American Nights," which also
> looks to AMERIKA.

I hadn't thought about those works, but THE CASTLE is an obvious source
for THERE ARE DOORS.  Klamm, of course, is directly from THE CASTLE, and
there are parallels between the situations of the protagonists.

--Adam

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