This is a really pretty good volume of Kafka's commentaries on his life and times. I recommend it even though I haven't yet read volume one. Kafka was one of the most interesting persons of Prague during his time there. ( )

Max Bord, Kafka's lifelong friend who encouraged him with his writing as literary executor for the fellow Czec who died at onoly 41 year old, edited thee jounals. There is a useful chronology and notes in which Brod writes from first hand knowledge. There are so many varued entries in in these diaries. There are parts of what would eventually become published works and many, many personal views of life. Kafka's letters and comments of almost half a decade to and about his fianacee shows him as the ultimate man who would not commit. There is speculation that he was homosexual, but what also comes through is the traditional "man who would not commit." There are many entries for the would be writer about orgainzing a life that include a full time job around a writing career. He also writes frequent about his dreams. ( )