2023-07-12 20:41:05
All of Kundera’s novels and essays, except La fête de l’insignifiance, are published in two volumes in the Pléiade, with a preface and biographies of the works by François Ricard. Selected pieces.
The first part of the work of the deceased writer is written in Czech. With Slowness (1995), he writes directly in French and revises the translation of most of his first texts.
The unbearable lightness of being (Gallimard, Folio)
Published in 1984, translated from Czech by François Kérel.
In Prague, in 1968, in the context of the Prague Spring and the invasion of the country by the USSR, Tomas oscillates between two loves, Tereza who wants pure love and Sabina who prefers physical love. Western-style lightness contrasts with heavy Eastern gravity, kitsch casts a veil over ugliness.
The Book of Laughter and Forgetting (Gallimard, Folio)
Published in 1979, translated from Czech by François Kérel.
Novel in the form of variations around the fate of an emigrant woman, Tamina, herself in search of the lost memories of her deceased husband. These approaches surround the city of Prague, Bohemia, the Czechs.
Read also“The kidnapped West”: when Milan Kundera reminded Europeans of the importance of their cultural heritage
L’ignorance (Gallimard, Folio)
Published in 2003, written directly in French.
Kunder disagrees with the assertion that man can only be sure of the present moment: without knowing the future, how indeed can we understand and give meaning to the actualized present? A philosophical novel about nostalgia, which features Irena and Joseph, originally from Bohemia, returning to their country after the fall of communism.
The Slow (Gallimard, Folio)
Published in 1995, written directly in French.
The novel takes place in a castle where Vera and Milan spend the night, and where a colloquium of entomologists is held. But it is the very castle where Vivan Denon, an 18th century libertine writer, has his story unfold. Kundera is only an occasional observer and it is Denon’s story that provides him with a springboard for disillusioned reflections on the small dramas of the colloquium. It is in this book, which resonates with another, Joke, that this dialogue is found: “You have often told me that one day you want to write a novel where no words would be serious. A great stupidity for your pleasure. I’m afraid the time has come. I just want to warn you: be careful. »
I tilt my head even lower.
“Do you remember what your mom used to tell you? I hear his voice like it was yesterday: Milanku, stop making jokes. No one will understand you. You will offend everyone and everyone will end up hating you. Do you remember ?
– Yes, I say.
– I warn you. Seriousness protected you. The lack of seriousness will leave you naked before the wolves. And you know they’re waiting for you, the wolves. »
To read also Mathieu Laine: ““The Slowness” of Kundera and the incredible delay in vaccination in France”
The joke (Gallimard, Folio)
Published in 1967, translation from Czech by Marcel Aymonin, fully revised by Claude Courtot and the author, final version.
Ludvik Jahn, back in his hometown, recalls an episode of his student youth with heavy consequences. For writing a political joke on a postcard, he is expelled from college and conscripted into the army. Jaroslav, who was his best friend, and Helena, the recipient of the mail, are the other narrators of the story.
Laughable Loves (Gallimard, Folio)
Collection of short stories first published in 1970, then reissued, translation from Czech by François Kérel, revised by the author.
Collection of seven short stories on the themes of love, fidelity, identity, being and appearing enlightened with a lucid and disillusioned look at society. According to the author, it constitutes a kind of laboratory for his first novels.
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