The Trial by Franz Kafka
The book revolves around a bank clerk who wakes one morning to find himself under arrest for an unspecified crime. Despite not being detained, he is subjected to the psychological torment of a bizarre and nightmarish judicial process. The story is a critique of bureaucracy, exploring themes of guilt, alienation and the inefficiency of the justice system.
The 21st greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 5238
This book was first published in 1925
61 Lists
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- score: 169 -- Daily Telegraph's 100 Books of the Century, 1900-1999 - 1999 (Weight: 160)
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- score: 127 -- The Great Books Podcast from John J. Miller - 2025 (Weight: 120)
- score: 122 -- Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century - 1999 (Weight: 100)
- score: 119 -- Fantasy and Horror: A Critical and Historical Guide - 1999 (Weight: 119)
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- score: 97 -- All-Time Classics, According to Academics - 1985 (Weight: 81)
- score: 91 -- TrueLit's Top 100 Favorite Books (2023) - 2023 (Weight: 80)
- score: 87 -- The 100 Most Important Translations - 2018 (Weight: 80)
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- score: 50 -- The 101 Favorite Novels of 'Le Monde' Readers - 2019 (Weight: 50)
- score: 44 -- Waterstone's Books of the Century - 1997 (Weight: 40)
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- score: 34 -- Der Kanon (The Canon) - 2006 (Weight: 33)
- score: 31 -- The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time - 2004 (Weight: 30)
- score: 31 -- The New Lifetime Reading Plan - 1999 (Weight: 30)
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- score: 21 -- Robert McCrum's top 10 books of the twentieth century - 2000 (Weight: 20)
- score: 21 -- The 100 Novels You Must Read in Your Lifetime - 2023 (Weight: 20)
- score: 11 -- The 100 Greatest Novels - 2007 (Weight: 10)
- score: 10 -- Masterpieces of World Literature - 1991 (Weight: 10)
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- score: 10 -- The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read - 2009 (Weight: 10)
- score: 1 -- The Greatest Books of 2024 - Honorable Mention - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Well-Educated Mind - 2003 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 100 Most Influential Books of the Century - 2000 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 100 Most Influential Books Ever Written - 1998 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 100 Best Books in the World - 2021 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 100 German Must-Reads - 2018 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 501 Must-Read Books - 2006 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List - 2018 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 500 Must Read Books - 2013 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 20 Posthumous Works You Should Read Before You Die - 2008 (Weight: 1)