The Metamorphosis

Franz Kafka

Feb 2014 · Blackstone Audio Inc. · Narrated by Shobha Tharoor Srinivasan

About this audiobook

Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis, first published in 1915, has been cited as one of the seminal works of fiction of the twentieth century. The story begins with a traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa, wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a gigantic insect. This extraordinary tale of imagination was written by Kafka against the backdrop of increasing turmoil in central Europe and remains not just an affecting tale but a disturbing allegory.

Ratings and reviews

Say what you will about the story, it's a classic and required reading. Five stars. On the other hand, I have serious doubts regarding the translation, and the recording and engineering are very poor, like a web cam microphone in a repurposed home dining room. Combine that with overly obnoxious annunciation, misplaced intonation and poor control of sibilance in the recording. It makes it a difficult listen. I don't blame the narrator per se, but such a classic deserves a director. I don't think there was one. Either that or they just weren't doing their job. My final verdict on this particular audiobook is to find another one of the same story. I should have listened to the sample. A poor reading can completely break up critical flow and pacing, and things get lost. Definitely listen to your samples. This one is a dud.

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About the author

Franz Kafka (1883-1924) was a German author and is considered to be one of the most influential authors of the twentieth century. With works like The Metamorphosis, The Trial, and The Castle, he specialized in diverse themes and archetypes of alienation, physical and psychological brutality, parent-child conflict, and characters who take on terrifying quests.

Sobha Tharoor Srinivasan has worked in radio, television, and theater since she was a child. After emigrating from India to the United States, she studied literature in college and has worked as speech coach, grant writer, and audiobook narrator.