The following version of this book was used to create this study guide: Kafka, Franz. Amerika. New York: Schocken Books, 1996.

Chapter 1 opens in New York City. Karl Rossmann, a 16-year-old boy from Prague, has been sent to America by his parents. Karl had a sexual relationship with a servant woman, and his parents sent him away after the servant woman became pregnant. Karl meets a man who is employed as a stoker on the ship. The stoker complains of being mistreated by the ship’s management. Karl attempts to plead with the ship’s management on the stoker’s behalf, but they ignore him. Karl then encounters his uncle, Edward Jacob, with whom he has been sent to live. Jacob is a senator and a wealthy businessperson.

In Chapter 2, Karl moves into Jacob’s large, opulent apartment in New York City. Jacob treats Karl well and makes many accommodations for him. One day, Mr. Pollunder—a friend/associate of Jacob’s—invites Karl to visit him at his country house upstate. Jacob politely accepts the invitation, but Jacob’s subsequent demeanor causes Karl to worry that he has somehow upset Jacob.

In Chapter 3, Karl and Pollunder arrive at Pollunder’s country house. Karl meets Pollunder’s mercurial daughter Clara and his associate Mr. Green. Karl asks to be allowed to return to his uncle, whom he fears he has offended. Pollunder and Green dismiss the idea. Green says that he has something to give Karl at midnight. At midnight, Green gives Karl a letter from Jacob. In the letter, Jacob disowns Karl for not returning to him. Karl points out to Green and Pollunder that they sabotaged him by not allowing him to return to his uncle.

In Chapter 4, Karl leaves the country house on foot. He meets two wandering laborers named Delamarche and Robinson, who claim to know where to find work. During their travels, they steal money and other possessions from Karl, so he parts ways with them.

In Chapter 5, at a hotel, a manager named Grete takes pity on him and gives him a job as an elevator operator. Karl begins to form a romantic relationship with Therese, an employee at the hotel.

In Chapter 6, while Karl is on duty at the hotel, Robinson arrives in search of him. Robinson is drunk, and he asks Karl for money. Karl tries to hide Robinson, but Robinson is disorderly. The head waiter and head porter blame Karl for Robinson’s presence and behavior, and Karl is fired.

In Chapter 7, Karl accompanies the drunken Robinson back to the house where Robinson and Delamarche are now living. The house is owned by a wealthy woman named Brunelda. Brunelda keeps Delamarche and Robinson as servants. When Karl tries to leave, the other three stop him and force him to remain as a servant. Karl stands on the balcony of the house and watches a political rally. During the night, Karl talks to a neighboring man who is a both a full-time worker and full-time student, and who never sleeps.

Chapter 8 skips ahead in time. (The novel is unfinished.) Karl has arrived in Oklahoma. He applies to be a trumpet player in a traveling theater. He is hired on but is reassigned to be an engineer. At the end of the chapter, Karl begins to travel with the theater group into a nearby mountain range.