With the ability to touch hearts of all ages, “Kafka and the Doll” is an unconventional love story. As written by Larrissa Theule and Rebecca Greene the 100 year old tale takes readers on an emotional journey, perhaps more metaphorical than historical.
In reality, Franz Kafka was by day a lawyer for an insurance company. By night he was prolific writer of absurdly nightmarish prose. Imaginatively, sometimes comedically, his complex narratives explored themes of alienation and existential anxiety. They continue to influence cultures globally in the iconic ways of Dostoevsky and Poe. With a strained paternal relationship and unorthodox ties to his Jewish roots, Kafka was in constant search of meaningful connections.
His romantic engagements were many. Most were complicated by unresolved internal conflicts and his inability to commit deeply to relationships. Kafka’s last lover, Dora Diamant, was however, an exception.
The story of Kafka and the Doll is Diamant’s recollection of the couple meeting Irma, a little German girl, in 1923. Although no notes of Kafka’s survive, Diamant credited her lover with writing the tender story of the girl’s inconsolable feelings of grief. As she told it, they came upon Irma as she sat alone in a park after losing Soupsy, her beloved doll
The plot features Kafka as a special mailman sent to deliver Soupsy news to Irma. For weeks his handwritten notes explained to the little girl her doll wasn’t lost, but rather adventuring around the world. Primitive illustrations highlight Soupsy’s whimsical travel-logs. Kafka’s endearing notes share inspirational things.
After a few weeks the updates ended gently, allegorically linking Soupsy’s last adventure to Kafka’s deteriorating health.
Pivoting from grief, the little girl’s heart grew to understand love’s permutations.
Kafka’s psychological parable includes a message of hopefulness that validates an emotional sense of isolation often coexists with loving memories.
Kafka and the Doll is a celebration of compassion, respect and renewal. Honoring the season that always mixes challenges with cheer this book is worth considering as a soul-filled Hanukkah or Christmas gift.
(An exhibition of Franz Kafka was shown at the Morgan Museum, in New York, Nov. 2024- April 2025 )
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