'As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from a troubled dream, he found he had been transformed in his bed into some monstrous kind of vermin.' So begins Franz Kafka's novella "Metamorphosis", a masterful mix of horror and absurdity which tells the story of traveling salesman Samsa who wakes up one day to find out he has turned into a giant insect. This change in circumstances makes his previous way of life impossible and causes his family to turn on him. "Metamorphosis" is one of the most remarkable stories ever written. Kafka's surrealistic approach shocks us into a new appreciation of a basic truth: when we have outlived our usefulness there are no longer any certainties. But there are many different levels on which to understand events. "Metamorphosis" is a strange and moving story which everyone should read and this is a handsome version which those who love books will want to see on their shelves. This is a beautiful edition to buy to keep or to give as a gift.