''The Great Wall of China'' (german: Beim Bau der Chinesischen Mauer) is the first posthumous collection of short stories by

Franz Kafka Franz Kafka (3 July 1883 – 3 June 1924) was a German-speaking Bohemian novelist and short-story writer, widely regarded as one of the major figures of 20th-century literature. His work fuses elements of realism and the fantastic. It ...

published in Germany in 1931. It was edited by

Max Brod Max Brod ( he, מקס ברוד; 27 May 1884 – 20 December 1968) was a German-speaking Bohemian, later Israeli, author, composer, and journalist. Although he was a prolific writer in his own right, he is best remembered as the friend and biog ...

and Hans Joachim Schoeps and collected previously unpublished short stories, incomplete stories, fragments and aphorisms written by Kafka between 1917 and 1924. The first English translation by Willa and Edwin Muir was published by

Martin Secker Martin Secker (6 April 1882 – 6 April 1978), born Percy Martin Secker Klingender, was a London publisher who was responsible for producing the work of a distinguished group of literary authors, including D. H. Lawrence, Thomas Mann, Norman Dougl ...

in 1933. The same translation was published in 1946 by

Schocken Books Schocken Books is a book publishing imprint of Penguin Random House that specializes in Jewish literary works. Originally established in 1931 by Salman Schocken as Schocken Verlag in Berlin, the company later moved to Palestine and then the Uni ...

* Introductory note by Edwin Muir * Longer Stories **

Investigations of a Dog "Investigations of a Dog" (German: "Forschungen eines Hundes") is a short story by Franz Kafka written in 1922. It was published posthumously in '' Beim Bau der Chinesischen Mauer'' (Berlin, 1931). The first English translation by Willa and Edwin ...

** The Burrow ** The Great Wall of China ** The Giant Mole * Short Stories and Fables **

The Hunter Gracchus "The Hunter Gracchus" (German: "Der Jäger Gracchus") is a short story by Franz Kafka. The story presents a boat carrying the long-dead Hunter Gracchus as it arrives at a port. The mayor of Riva meets Gracchus, who gives him an account of his death ...

The Married Couple "The Married Couple" (German: "Das Ehepaar") is a 1922 short story by Franz Kafka. It was published posthumously in ''Beim Bau der Chinesischen Mauer'' (Berlin, 1931). The first English translation by Willa and Edwin Muir was published by Martin S ...

My Neighbor "My Neighbor" ("", literally "The Neighbor") is a short story by Franz Kafka. It was written in 1917 and published in 1931 in Berlin by Max Brod and Hans-Joachim Schoeps. The first English translation by Willa and Edwin Muir was published by Mart ...

A Common Confusion "A Common Confusion" (German: "Eine alltägliche Verwirrung") is a short story by Franz Kafka. It was published posthumously in '' Beim Bau der Chinesischen Mauer'' (Berlin, 1931). The first English translation by Willa and Edwin Muir was publishe ...

** The Bridge **

The Bucket Rider "The Bucket Rider" (German: "Der Kübelreiter") is a short story by Franz Kafka, written in 1917. It first appeared in the ''Prager Presse'' in 1921 and was published posthumously in ''Beim Bau der Chinesischen Mauer'' (Berlin, 1931). The first Eng ...

** A Crossbreed ** The Knock at the Manor Gate **

The City Coat of Arms "The City Coat of Arms" (German: "Das Stadtwappen") is a short story by Franz Kafka. It was published posthumously in ''Beim Bau der Chinesischen Mauer'' (Berlin, 1931). The first English translation by Willa and Edwin Muir was published by Martin ...

The Silence of the Sirens "The Silence of the Sirens" (German: "Das Schweigen der Sirenen") is a short story by Franz Kafka. It was not published until 1931, seven years after his death. Max Brod selected stories and published them in the collection '' Beim Bau der Chinesis ...

Prometheus In Greek mythology, Prometheus (; , , possibly meaning "forethought")Smith"Prometheus". is a Titan god of fire. Prometheus is best known for defying the gods by stealing fire from them and giving it to humanity in the form of technology, know ...

The Truth about Sancho Panza "The Truth about Sancho Panza" (German: "Die Wahrheit über Sancho Pansa") is a short story by Franz Kafka. It was published in 1931, seven years after the death of Kafka. Max Brod selected stories and published them in the collection ''Beim Bau ...

The Problem of Our Laws "The Problem of Our Laws" (German: "Zur Frage der Gesetze") is a short parable by Franz Kafka was published posthumously in ''Beim Bau der Chinesischen Mauer'' (Berlin, 1931). The first English translation by Willa and Edwin Muir was published by ...

On Parables "On Parables" (German: "Von den Gleichnissen") is a short story fragment by Franz Kafka. It was not published until 1931, seven years after his death. Max Brod selected stories and published them in the collection ''Beim Bau der Chinesischen Mauer' ...

** A Little Fable * Aphorisms ** "He" ** Reflections on Sin, Pain, Hope, and the True Way

Publication history (in English)

*1933 London: Martin Secker, xvi+285 pp., hardcover; first UK edition, subtitled ''and Other Pieces'' *1946 London: Secker and Warburg, 159 pp., hardcover; Revised and reset edition *1946 New York:

, xix+315 pp., hardcover; first US edition, subtitled ''Stories and Reflections'' {{DEFAULTSORT:Great Wall Of China, The 1931 short story collections Books published posthumously Short story collections by Franz Kafka Martin Secker books Kiepenheuer & Witsch books

Contents

Publication history (in English)