Franz Kafka / Gesammelte Schriften. Herausgegeben von Max Brod. Berlin: Schocken, 1935; Prague: Heinr. Mercy Sohn, 1936-1937. Seven volumes. First edition. German.
The collected works of Franz Kafka, edited by Max Brod. Including Kafka's biography composed by Brod. The first four volumes were printed in Berlin in 1935 and the three last volumes were printed in Prague.
Max Brod and Franz Kafka were close friends for many years. Kafka, who suffered from tuberculosis and anticipated his death, left his work to Brod, along with the explicit instruction that the unpublished work should be destroyed on Kafka’s death.
Brod, who was appointed as executor of Kafka's will, ignored the request and published all of Kafka's writings after his death, including the three novels "The Trial", "The Castle" and "The Man who disappeared". Brod also published Kafka's diaries and wrote his biography. In 1933 publication of works by Jewish writers was forbidden in Germany. "Schocken" - Jewish Publishing House - was the only one to have a permit to publish Jewish writers, on condition that their books were sold only to Jews. At the time, Max Brod, through Dr. Schpitzer, granted “Schocken” the copyrights to Kafka’s writings. The first four volumes, published by “Schocken”, were printed in Germany in 1935. Later, Kafka and Brod’s names were added by the Nazi regime to the list of excommunicated authors. As a result the publishing house transferred part of its operation to Prague where the last three volumes were printed. Seven volumes, 19.5 cm. Overall good condition. Ownership inscriptions. Minor damages to bindings. Kafka’s signature is embossed on the bindings.