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| Hidden Kafka papers set to emerge | Hidden Kafka papers set to emerge |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Experts are to examine previously unseen documents belonging to the writer Franz Kafka, which were locked away in a Tel Aviv flat for 40 years. | Experts are to examine previously unseen documents belonging to the writer Franz Kafka, which were locked away in a Tel Aviv flat for 40 years. |
| The papers have been gathering dust in the home of the former secretary of Kafka's literary executor, Max Brod. | The papers have been gathering dust in the home of the former secretary of Kafka's literary executor, Max Brod. |
| Since his death in 1968, they've been kept by Esther Hoffe, who right up until her recent death at the age of 101 doggedly refused to release them. | Since his death in 1968, they've been kept by Esther Hoffe, who right up until her recent death at the age of 101 doggedly refused to release them. |
| But it is unclear if the fragile papers remain legible after so many years. | But it is unclear if the fragile papers remain legible after so many years. |
| Before he died from tuberculosis aged 41, Franz Kafka decreed that all his manuscripts should be burned. | Before he died from tuberculosis aged 41, Franz Kafka decreed that all his manuscripts should be burned. |
| His friend and literary executor, Max Brod, ignored that instruction. | His friend and literary executor, Max Brod, ignored that instruction. |
| The result was such brooding novels of alienation, persecution and hopelessness as The Trial, Metamorphosis and The Castle. | |
| The published works owes much to Max Brod's editing since Kafka rarely finished any of his works - The Castle actually stopped mid-sentence. | The published works owes much to Max Brod's editing since Kafka rarely finished any of his works - The Castle actually stopped mid-sentence. |
| That is why the unseen notes and documents might be so valuable. | That is why the unseen notes and documents might be so valuable. |
| They were originally packed into two suitcases and smuggled out of Prague in 1939 just ahead of the German advance on the city. | They were originally packed into two suitcases and smuggled out of Prague in 1939 just ahead of the German advance on the city. |
| They've been kept in Tel Aviv these past 40 years by Brod's secretary, Esther Hoffe, who refused all requests to examine them. | They've been kept in Tel Aviv these past 40 years by Brod's secretary, Esther Hoffe, who refused all requests to examine them. |
| The authorities here have warned that the damp in her flat and the hoards of dogs and cats she kept may have damaged or even destroyed the papers. | The authorities here have warned that the damp in her flat and the hoards of dogs and cats she kept may have damaged or even destroyed the papers. |
| The world of Kafka scholarship is in a state of anxious suspense - not unlike one of Kafka's characters. | The world of Kafka scholarship is in a state of anxious suspense - not unlike one of Kafka's characters. |