The Unbearable Lightness of Being
The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera, published by faber and faber in 1985, is a profound exploration of love and infidelity set against the backdrop of the twentieth century. This First Perennial Edition spans 314 pages and delves into the complexities of existence, where lives are shaped by irrevocable choices and chance events. Kundera examines the concept of “being” in a world where experiences occur only once, leading to a sense of lightness that permeates both private and public spheres.
Readers will encounter a narrative that juxtaposes locations such as Prague, Geneva, Thailand, and the United States, blending elements of comedy and tragedy. The novel presents a rich tapestry of philosophical reflections and diverse styles, intertwining the historical context of Czechoslovakia during the Prague Spring and the Russian invasion with the intimate lives of its characters. Through this intricate storytelling, Kundera invites contemplation on the nature of existence and the human condition.
Official synopsis Publisher
Librarian’s note: There is an Alternate Cover Edition for this edition of this book here.
In this novel – a story of irreconcilable loves and infidelities – Milan Kundera addresses himself to the nature of twentieth-century ‘Being’ In a world in which lives are shaped by irrevocable choices and by fortuitous events, a world in which everything occurs but once, existence seems to lose its substance, its weight. We feel, says the novelist, ‘the unbearable lightness of being’ – not only as the consequence of our private acts but also in the public sphere, and the two inevitably intertwine.
Juxtaposing Prague, Geneva, Thailand and the United States, this masterly novel encompasses the extremes of comedy and tragedy, and embraces, it seems, all aspects of human existence. It offers a wide range of brilliant and amusing philosophical speculations and it descants on a variety of styles. In this classic novel Kundera draws together the Czechoslovakia of the Prague Spring and the Russian invasion, the philosophy of Nietzsche, and the love affairs of a number of heartbreakingly familiar characters.
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