Franz Kafka's "The Trial" stands as a seminal exploration of bureaucracy, justice, and existential anxiety. Written in the early 20th century, it follows the harrowing ordeal of Josef K., a seemingly ordinary man who is arrested and prosecuted by a mysterious, opaque authority for a crime that is never revealed. The novel's surreal atmosphere and relentless ambiguity have made it a touchstone in discussions about modernity, individual agency, and the often inscrutable power of institutions. Readers are drawn into a labyrinthine world where logic falters, and personal autonomy is constantly threatened by faceless systems.

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