A handsome recluse, plagued by indecision and hypochondria, Franz Kafka nonetheless exhibited an extraordinary strength. He developed the uncanny ability to observe himself with cool objectivity, and he cultivated this ability in his writing, where it appeared in increasingly original metaphorical form. His works became among the greatest of the twentieth century, and his influence permeated far and wide, transcending literature. His descriptions of his attempts to escape from a self-made tyranny are his great works of art.

In Kafka in 90 Minutes, Paul Strathern offers a concise, expert account of Kafka's life and ideas and explains their influence on literature and on man's struggle to understand his place in the world. The book also includes selections from Kafka's writings, a list of his chief works in English translation, a chronology of Kafka's life and times, and recommended reading for those who wish to delve deeper.