The Trial (published posthumously in 1925) by Franz Kafka is a landmark existential novel exploring themes of bureaucracy, guilt, and alienation. The story follows Josef K., a man unexpectedly arrested and prosecuted by an opaque and oppressive legal system for an unspecified crime. Kafka's narrative delves into the absurdity, powerlessness, and psychological torment experienced by individuals trapped in incomprehensible institutions. With its darkly surreal tone and unsettling atmosphere, The Trial is a profound commentary on authority, justice, and the human condition. Franz Kafka (1883-1924) was a German-speaking Bohemian writer renowned for his surreal and existential works. His fiction, including The Trial, The Metamorphosis, and The Castle, often portrays alienation, absurdity, and the complexities of modern life. Kafka's writing style combines precise detail, psychological insight, and a dreamlike quality, influencing literature, philosophy, and art throughout the 20th century. He remains a central figure in modernist and existential literature.