Anne Bronte

Anne Bronte was born on 17th Jan, 1820 at Thornton, Yorkshire, England, and died on 28th May, 1849 at Scarborough, Yorkshire. She was an English poet and novelist. Her sisters Charlotte and Emily Bronte both were poets & novelists. Anne Bronte's pen name was Acton Bell. She was the youngest member of the Bronte literary family. She wrote two novels - Agnes Grey and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Anne, along with her sisters, wrote poems and published them as Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell.

Anne attended one boarding school for just a year. At home, her studies included music and drawing. Although her aunt tried to make Anne and her sister perfect in household chores, they were more interested in literature. Anne's father had a good collection of books by renowned authors and on various subjects. She mostly read the Bible, Homer, Shakespeare, Milton, and others. She took interest in history, geography, and biographical books. This nurtured her imagination and creativity, leading her to develop an imaginary world. Her literary talent grew over time.

Anne worked as a governess for almost 6 years. Her second novel, The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, is considered one of the first feminist novels. She was deeply affected by the death of her sister Emily Bronte at the age of just 29, which led to her deteriorating physical health. Anne was a brave lady and was not afraid of death; she felt ill but requested God to allow her a little more time in this world to do some good before leaving. Her poems and novels have become classics in the literary world.

Metamorphosis

Franz Kafka narrates the story of Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one day to discover that he has metamorphosed into a bug. The book explores themes of alienation and existentialism. Kafka wrote many important stories, including The Judgment, and novels such as Amerika, The Castle, and The Hunger Artist. Many of his stories were published during his lifetime, while others were published posthumously. During the 1920s and 30s, Kafka's works were published and translated, becoming landmarks of twentieth-century literature.

Ironically, the story ends on an optimistic note as the family reunites. Kafka's style epitomizes his writing—presenting impossible situations, like a man's transformation into an insect, and developing the story with realism and detailed attention. The Metamorphosis is autobiographical in parts, reflecting Kafka's own life experiences.