Dear sir, you recently wrote that Ottomar Starke is going to do an illustration for the title page of The Metamorphosis. Now I have had a slight probably wholly unnecessary shock. It occurred to me that Starke might want, let us say, to draw the insect itself. Not that, please, not that! I don’t want to restrict his authority, but only to make this request from my own naturally better knowledge of the story. The insect itself cannot be drawn. It cannot even be shown at a distance. I would be very grateful if you could communicate or underscore my request. If I myself might make suggestions regarding the illustration I would choose scenes like these: the parents and the chief clerk in front of the closed door, or better yet: the parents and the sister in the illuminated room, while the door to the adjoining completely dark room is open.