Franz Kafka, the brilliant yet enigmatic author of The Metamorphosis, led a life as peculiar as the surreal stories he wrote. 

Swimming Under the Stars

Franz Kafka had the quirky habit of swimming at night, a practice he found calming and refreshing after long days of work and writing. He preferred the solitude of nighttime swims in the Vltava River in Prague, where the quiet and cool water helped him clear his mind. This unusual ritual offered him peace and a break from the pressures of his daily life, perfectly aligning with Kafka’s introspective and eccentric nature.

He Was a Master of the 9-to-5

Despite being one of the most influential writers of the 20th century, Kafka spent most of his life working as an insurance clerk! By day, he dealt with accident claims, and by night, he wrote the dark, existential tales that would later become literary classics. Ironically, his job was incredibly dull—quite the opposite of the bizarre worlds he created in his stories.

He Was a Health Nut

Kafka was an early advocate for healthy living. He followed a strict vegetarian diet, exercised regularly, and even practiced swimming and hiking. He had an obsession with physical fitness and was known to take cold baths every morning, which he believed would strengthen his willpower. Kafka would’ve fit right in with today’s wellness influencers!

He Wanted His Work Destroyed

Kafka was so self-critical that he ordered his friend Max Brod to destroy all his unpublished manuscripts upon his death. Thankfully, Brod ignored Kafka’s wishes and went on to publish his most famous works, including The Trial, The Castle, and Amerika. Without Brod’s rebellion, Kafka might have remained an obscure writer with no legacy.

He Had an Intense Fear of Mice 

Just like some of his characters, Kafka had his own irrational fears—one of which was mice! He was so terrified of them that he once wrote about the anxiety of hearing them scurrying around his room. Given the creepy, claustrophobic nature of many of his stories, this fear fits the Kafkaesque mood perfectly.

Wrote Letters to a Doll

Kafka had a surprisingly sweet side! One day, he encountered a little girl crying in a park because she had lost her doll. Kafka consoled her by saying the doll wasn’t lost, but had gone on an adventure. For weeks, Kafka wrote “letters from the doll” to the girl, telling stories about its travels. This tender gesture shows Kafka had a playful, empathetic heart beneath his dark, brooding exterior.

Obsessed with Tuberculosis

Kafka was a notorious hypochondriac, and his fear of illness ultimately became a reality when he contracted tuberculosis. This disease played a huge role in shaping his outlook on life and death, and many of his works are tinged with themes of existential anxiety, decay, and the inevitability of suffering. Kafka even took part in strange treatments, including drinking milk fresh from cows, which he thought would help him recover.

He Had a Dark Sense of Humor

Despite the bleakness of his work, Kafka had a dry, dark sense of humor. He reportedly laughed out loud while reading sections of The Metamorphosis to friends, particularly the parts where Gregor Samsa, now a giant insect, struggles to adapt to his new form. Kafka found the absurdity of life deeply amusing, even when it was nightmarish.

He’s One of the Most Famous Writers Who Didn’t Want Fame

Kafka was incredibly private and didn’t seek fame during his lifetime. He published only a few short stories while he was alive, and much of his fame came posthumously, thanks to his friend Max Brod. Kafka’s reluctance to share his work makes him one of the most famous writers who never wanted to be famous!

Dabbled in Drawing

Kafka wasn’t just a writer—he also loved to draw! He created quirky sketches that reflected his surreal imagination, often drawing strange, distorted figures. Though his art never gained the same fame as his writing, it was an extension of his unique view of the world and his ongoing fascination with the absurd.