Földvári Books

The First Book of Milena, Kafka’s Love Correspondent

Milena; [Jesenska, Milena]

Cesta k jednoduchosti. [The Road to Simplicity]

Praha: Nakladatel F. Topic, 1926. First edition. Printed in 300 numbered, signed copies, this is unnumbered, without signature. In publisher’s blue wrappers, printed in yellow. 90, (6) p. Cover slightly tanned at the edges and the spine. Small damage to the spine at the tail and the head. Binding somewhat loose. Overall in fine condition.

The first book of the Czech journalist, writer and translator, Milena Jesenska who became known for her love correspondence with Franz Kafka.

Besides translating, Milena Jesenska (1896–1944) also pursued a career as a journalist. Her articles and editorials were published in major Prague newspapers and magazines, such as Tribuna and Narodni listy. Her first, 1926 book, The Road to Simplicity, which she dedicated to her father, includes a collection of her writings on love, marriage, emancipation, fidelity and fashion, published in 1925–26.

Jesenska was the first to translate the work of the writer, Franz Kafka (1883–1924) whom with she had a long time affair. They were in an intense correspondence from 1919 when Jesenska wrote to Kafka to ask for permission to translate his 1913 short story, The Stroker. Kafka and Jesenska also met personally in Vienna as well as in Gmünd. Their letters were published in German in 1951 under the title Briefe an Milena.

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Price: €3,400.00