The secret dream of Ottla Kafka

Prague, at the dawn of the twentieth century.

Ottla Kafka is not the kind of girl who quietly accepts the future others have chosen for her. She dreams of studying, leaving home, and discovering how life can grow from the tiniest seed. Above all, she longs to decide her own destiny. But her father, Hermann Kafka, has already mapped out the lives of his children—and he has no intention of changing his mind.

Fortunately, Ottla is not alone. By her side is her brother Franz, a shy, sensitive young man who loves writing stories more than anything else. Together they share secrets, dreams, and an unshakable longing for freedom. As war sweeps across Europe and the world around them is transformed, the two siblings struggle to find the courage to follow their own paths, even when doing so seems impossible.

Inspired by the true story of Franz Kafka and his beloved sister Ottla, this moving novel is a celebration of family, resilience, and the search for freedom. Whether wandering through the winding streets of Prague or keeping each other close across the river of ink flowing through their heartfelt letters, the brother and sister discover that growing up means finding the strength to become who you truly are.