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Kafka's work influenced - and still does - many great writers. To say - or to think - the world wouldn't be much different if his works were burned is to diminish the importance of an intelligent and profound man that suffered greatly and bared his heart and soul to the world.
If his wish should be respected or not, is not a question that has any value anymore. It was not and not by Israel, but by his best friend, Max Brod, that not only copy-edited, but finished and published his work; and compiled and put order on many of his personal and private diaries.
To read and understand Franz Kafka's works, is to immerse oneself in the dark mysteries of a scarred soul, not only pertinent to his genius, but universal to all men that should be revered.

That's an amazing information, Stephan and Gabriela. I'm a huge fan of Kafka and I didn't know about this.
Although I believe his wish should be respected, I cannot be grateful for the greed that brought it all to us.
He was an amazing man, badly abused by his father and ignored by his mother.
All the respect he was due is being payed by the praises over his work.

I read in the book intro that Kafka didn't want his work to be published. I wondered for a while whether I have the right to read his work. I started reading with a tiny sense of guilt, but as I progressed I only revered and admired Kafka more and more. Maybe I even understood why Kafka wanted his writing to be destroyed. He's written his soul out: Metamorphosis, The Judgement, A Little Woman,though metaphorically, give a deep insight into his life . So should his death wish have been respected by his dear friend? I don't know. The world may still have been the same without them, but it would have lost a great artist. An genius known only to a few dozens. Kafka's works have inspired many contemporary writers like Haruki Murakami and his influence in literature is here to stay. And for this transgression I hope Kafka would forgive his friend and all of us readers!

Absolutely, Kafka is one of Europe's greatest 20th century writers. His influence can't be measured, and yet he is often poorly understood. The translations don't do justice to his style (German is notoriously difficult to translate)--and yet we have to be grateful because translation is a thankless task and it can eat up your life (I do translation).

Good question, Stephan...all I can say is, thanks God for Max Brod...

And what about the scandal and litigation re the materials Esther Hoffe kept for years and the ongoing dispute between the state of Israel and the Hoffe estate.

Poor Kafka - perhaps he knew that sooner or later indignity and embarrassment will take over.

I do feel wrong reading his works, but they do seem to be important. We have the word "Kafkan" from him, but it usually just refers to being turned into a cockroach. I think the world wouldn't be much different if his works were destoryed. We certainly shouldn't be reading his unfinished works.