Many young visitors to Kafka’s little cottage at Prague Castle exclaim something along the lines of “They inflicted Kafka on us at school!”. Well-meaning teachers may well have put their students off by picking the wrong texts to start from. This little collection aims to prove that the author is not entirely as dark, grotesque and mysterious as often claimed. The stories are easy to follow, gripping and humorous, banishing the caricature of Kafka as depressing before it even arises; the anthology gives young readers an easier way into the work of one of the most significant German-language authors, and forms a positive foundation for further reading. An afterword on Kafka’s own schooldays rounds off the reading experience with a little historical background. An enjoyable read for students and teachers alike, and for anyone previously daunted by Kafka.