2023-07-12 17:03:19
by Culture Editor
The silent tribute to Brussels. The French Prime Minister: “A voice that will be missed”. The President of the Czech Republic: «Symbol of the history of our country». Writer Georgi Gospodinov’s tweet
The death of the writer Milan Kundera (1929-2023), one of the greatest representatives of the contemporary novel, is provoking, as expected, numerous demonstrations and reactions of homage, condolences and affection.
In honor of the writer born in Brno, in what was then Czechoslovakia, and who died at the age of 94 in Paris, the European Parliament observed a minute’s silence: the Brussels hall thus recalled Kundera’s courage.
Élisabeth Borne, French Prime Minister, said of the writer Kundera was “a voice that will be missed” and again: “Milan Kundera’s work is at the same time a profound, human and intimate exploration”. While politics Rima Abdul-Malak, French culture minister, wrote on Twitter: «Enormous sadness. Milan Kundera had chosen France to never stop being free». Recalling that the author of the bestseller The Unbearable Lightness of Being had moved to France from Czechoslovakia in 1975 and in 1981 had obtained French citizenship. «Through the pages – continues Rima Abdul-Malak’s tweet – he helped us to discover who we are, to find a way in the absurdity of the world. With him died one of the greatest voices of European literature.
Kundera’s disappearance was commented on by Czech President Petr Pavel and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala. Pavel called Kundera a «world-class writer» with his fate «symbolized the eventful history of our country in the twentieth century». Prime Minister Fiala underlined how his work has reached “entire generations of readers on all continents and has achieved global fame”. The prime minister recalled that Kundera “was closely linked to Brno, even if he had to leave his country for political reasons”. In 2009 Kundera accepted honorary citizenship of the city. “He left not only a remarkable work of fiction – added Fiala -, but also an important work of non-fiction”. The former Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic Daniel Herman, in office between 2014 and 2017, also expressed his gratitude to the novelist for his work. «I consider the writers of the “prophets” of the contemporary world. Milan Kundera has crossed the threshold of Eternity. Artistically straddling two languages, he has reached a literary peak ». And Herman added again: «I was struck by the intensity with which he perceived Central European identity».
Among his fellow writers, the Bulgarian author Georgi Gospodinov, recent winner of the International Booker Prize 2023 with Cronorifugio (Voland), has entrusted the social network Twitter with a thought that plays with the author’s most famous novel: «Milan Kundera… The unbearable lightness of literature without him».
July 12, 2023 (change July 12, 2023 | 16:59)
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