To Read & To Write

“Undine”, written in German by Friedrich Heinrich Karl de la Motte Fouque in 1811, is considered one of the finest stories from the fairy-tales and folklore canon. Although the author was influenced by previous stories (specifically a French tale as well as the work of a Swiss writer), “Undine” is exceptional because of the language and writing within its pages. George Macdonald, a Scottish author, has famously said: “Were I asked, what is a fairytale? I should reply, Read Undine, that is a fairytale…” The story begins with a complete and concise statement of the overall plot. What would usually be considered a “spoiler” is not so in “Undine”. And rightfully so, because the elements of the characters and setting are described so mysteriously that the story becomes completely engrossing, and the one reading it will forget all about the introduction. The story is rich with subplots as well, and thus brings the reader into many different worlds; a quaint rural cottage, an island gar...

Franz Kafka wrote The Metamorphosis, considered by many, scholars and plebian alike, a masterpiece of 20th Century Literature. The Metamorphosis was originally written in German, the language of Kafka’s homeland, and was published in 1915. This novella is an "absurdist” fable with many symbolic meanings and interpretations, some leaning toward the divide between religion and secularism. The text can also perhaps be read as a commentary on the alienated modern man who must separate from his immediate family (see Explanatory Notes On The Text by the translator of the Bantam publication, Stanley Corngold), or, perhaps a commentary on paranoia and mental illness. Kafka writes simply, with just enough detail for the reader to understand the story as well as just enough room for thoughtful interpretative speculation. The basic plot is as follows: The central character is a hard-working man named Gregor Samsa. Gregor is a travelling salesman, and hasn’t missed a day of work in five y...