Max Brod

Max Brod (May 27, 1884 – December 20, 1968) was a German-speaking Czech Jewish writer, composer, and journalist. Although he was a prolific writer in his own right, he is best known as the literary executor and friend of Franz Kafka.

Brod was born in Prague, then part of Austria-Hungary. He studied law at the German University in Prague and worked as a civil servant. He and Kafka met in 1902 and became lifelong friends. Brod encouraged Kafka to write and publish his works, and remained a supportive confidant.

Kafka, before his death, instructed Brod to burn all his unpublished manuscripts and papers. Brod famously disobeyed this request, believing Kafka's work deserved to be preserved and shared with the world. Thanks to Brod's decision, Kafka's novels The Trial, The Castle, and Amerika were published posthumously, along with many of his short stories and diaries. Brod edited and prepared these works for publication, and his introductions often shaped early interpretations of Kafka's writing.

After the German occupation of Prague in 1939, Brod fled to Palestine, where he continued to work as a writer and journalist. He also continued to champion Kafka's work and dedicated much of his life to preserving and promoting it. Brod wrote a biography of Kafka, which remains a key source of information about the author's life and work.

Brod's own literary output included novels, plays, essays, and philosophical works. He was a Zionist and wrote extensively on Jewish themes. His works explore themes of identity, faith, and the human condition. While his own works are not as widely known as Kafka's, Brod made a significant contribution to German-language literature and culture.