It has been argued that Franz Kafka's famous instructions to his literary executor Max Brod to burn all Kafka's unpublished works (which included all three novels, *The Trial* *The Castle* and *Amerika*) were really ironic, that Kafka knew that Brod would never carry out these instructions, and that Brod had even so informed him. http://concurringopinions.com/archives/2008/09/franz_kafkas_la.html
Let's just assume, though, that Kafka was not only serious but that Brod obeyed his instructions. (Or if it seems implausible that Brod will do so, Kafka chooses another literary executor.) What would Kafka'a literary reputation be today? Of course there were the short stories published during his lifetime and above all there was *The Metamorphosis*. Yet I wonder if the works published during his lifetime would have gotten nearly as much posthumous attention as they did without the stir caused by Brod's publication of the other works, above all *The Trial.* (And without that last work, the term "Kafka-esque" would almost certainly never have become commonplace.)
Let's just assume, though, that Kafka was not only serious but that Brod obeyed his instructions. (Or if it seems implausible that Brod will do so, Kafka chooses another literary executor.) What would Kafka'a literary reputation be today? Of course there were the short stories published during his lifetime and above all there was *The Metamorphosis*. Yet I wonder if the works published during his lifetime would have gotten nearly as much posthumous attention as they did without the stir caused by Brod's publication of the other works, above all *The Trial.* (And without that last work, the term "Kafka-esque" would almost certainly never have become commonplace.)