The magistrate’s books were for entertainment
The first book’s first page had a painted picture of a naked couple on a sofa. The second book was a fiction titled “The Torments Grete Had To Suffer from Her Husband Hans”. (Kafka, p. 41)
Kafka used the name Grete because his ex-fiancee Felice’s girlfriend was named Grete Bloch. Kafka also professed his liking or affection for Grete. I would guess that he used the name Grete because that name was of significance to him.
The magistrate pretended to be studious, reading books at his table, when he actually was looking at visuals for his pleasure, or reading a fiction about the derogatory treatment of women.

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