antagonist

My admiration for Spurious is limitless. I noticed an intriguing question Spurious asks:

Who trusts Janouch's introduction to the second edition of his
conversations with Kafka? Trustworthy or not, it's moving. In fact, I
like the lies, which are so obviously lies (…)

Who indeed can trust Janouch' recollection of him lending Kafka his de Sade book? But also, who cares? An illusory connection between Kafka and de Sade is simply too interesting not to succumb to:

Gustav Janouch recalled in his memoir Kafka's remark that "[t]he Marquis de Sade, whose biography you lent to me, is the real patron of our era" (J, 131). The meaning of this pronouncement is obscure, but manifestly Kafka was aware of de Sade's work – or at least his reputation – and with Penal Colony Kafka crossed a thin but recognizable line, and entered the domain of the Marquis. This was a misstep [...]. (From Louis Begley The Tremendous World I have Inside My Head)

(Why does Begley think this is a misstep? Is he distrustful of Janouch as well?)