Kafka Was the Rage
Kafka Was the Rage
Book Brief
161
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Greenwich Village • 1940s
1975
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Kafka Was the Rage: A Greenwich Village Memoir by Anatole Broyard is a posthumously published 1993 memoir that recounts his life in late 1940s Greenwich Village. After returning from World War II, Broyard immerses himself in the bohemian scene, detailing his relationships and the burgeoning artistic and intellectual movements of the era. He highlights the period's optimism and creative promise, mingled with the complexities of love and cultural shifts he experienced firsthand. The book includes depictions of intimate relationships and the impact of wartime experiences.
Nostalgic
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Emotional
Humorous
Reviews & Readership
2,394 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Anatole Broyard's Kafka Was the Rage garners praise for its vivid portrayal of post-WWII Greenwich Village, capturing its intellectual vibrancy and bohemian lifestyle. Broyard's prose is lauded for its wit and poignancy. However, some critics note the book's fragmented structure and occasional self-indulgence. Overall, it offers a compelling snapshot of a transformative era.
Who Should Read Kafka Was the Rage?
Readers who enjoy Kafka Was the Rage by Anatole Broyard are often captivated by postwar bohemian New York. Comparable to those who appreciate A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway and Just Kids by Patti Smith, they seek reflective, personal narratives set in transformative cultural eras.
2,394 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Kafka Was the Rage is an autobiographical account by Anatole Broyard, reflecting his experiences in the Greenwich Village of the late 1940s, capturing the post-war cultural and intellectual vibrancy of the area.
The book was published posthumously in 1993, with Broyard's widow, Alexandra, playing a key role in editing and compiling the manuscript for publication.
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Anatole Broyard, who later became a noted literary critic for The New York Times, uses humor and charm in the book to explore the complexities of identity, relationships, and the artistic life.
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161
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Greenwich Village • 1940s
1975
Adult
18+ years
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