The Trial (Franz Kafka, 1914-15 (published 1925))

One quickly sees how the adjective "Kafkaesque" came into usage.

Joseph K. is arrested and prosecuted by a shadowy court system.  He never learns the nature of the charges against him.

K. hires a lawyer, who doesn't seem to advance his case.  I like the scenes with K.'s practical uncle.  Also the scenes where K (a senior bank official) is competing with the vice president.  Also the opening scene (where he is arrested in bizarre fashion).

K. sees folks in the court system - those charged, minor court officials, clerks, etc.  But never gets a clue as to how things work, or even why he is in the system.

I see Kafka referred to as an incredibly important author for the 20th century, and I understand that this work (though unfinished, like all his works) is thought to be one of his best.  I like it; I also must be missing something because I don't quite get why it's considered so great.  Pretty clearly it's about modern bureaucracy, lack of accountability, lack of transparency?  I note that the book was written in 1914-1915 - before the emergence of the Soviet state.  (Though there had been plenty of repression in German lands over the years (Kafka being Czech)).