Milan Kundera

Milan Kundera is one of the most celebrated Czech authors of the modern era. Born in 1929 in Brno, Czechoslovakia, the late great Kundera had a vast career spanning more than six decades. He truly embodied the Czech culture, even after being forced to flee from his homeland in 1975, and his works remain some of the most talked about literary pieces in the literary world today.

A prolific writer and philosopher, Kundera dives deep into the physical, spiritual, and emotional worlds with his writing. He often delves into the meaning of life, of existence, and of love. His two most acclaimed works, "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" and “The Joke”, are two of the best known works to come out of Czech literature.

Kundera's first novel, “The Joke” (1967), establishes the themes, motifs, and techniques that are featured in many of his later works. It appropriately sets the tone of his work and his outlook on life, including a strong emphasis on irony, bureaucracy, and salvation. "The Joke" follows Ludvik, a young man from Prague who tells an off-color joke about the communist regime to an old friend. In punishment for the joke, Ludvik is expelled from the Communist Party and is sent to a labor camp in the countryside. Upon his return, his love and his life are in tatters.

The novel exposes the fear and paranoia of life under communism. It is a poignant examination of the way people can be manipulated and controlled within a system of oppression, while simultaneously being a quest to discover the activity of freedom and expression.

Kundera's second work, "The Unbearable Lightness of Being” (1984), takes place in Czechoslovakia in the early 1970s, during the period of Soviet occupation. This novel follows the story of Tomas and Tereza, two lovers living in an atmosphere of political turmoil and upheaval. In an effort to protect her, Tomas sends Tereza away to Vienna, yet the separation does not shield her from the pain of their separation. This book is a meditation on freedom and commitment, as it tackles questions such as whether to choose a life or a legacy and whether life is fated by immutable choices or is something that can be crafted and molded. The characters in this novel, especially Tomas, struggle to make sense of the human condition and confront the dilemmas of existence.

Kundera's works are often studied in literary circles, as they are masterpieces of storytelling, philosophy, and absolute reality. His works explore larger questions that surround the human experience, such as love, freedom, and commitment while often mixing elements of humor and tragedy. He also often used unique techniques, such as dream sequences, stream-of-consciousness writing, and metamorphosis, to further illustrate the ideas in his works. Ultimately, Kundera's works are known for their ability to transport readers into a world of beauty, complexity, and few simply put, humanity.

Aside from his literary works, Kundera was also a renowned philosopher who published much non-fiction work. His philosophy revolved around the idea that life is not determined by fate but rather by the choices people make. He thought that all of the indecisive moments in our lives are just as important as the decisions that come from them, and that our lives are as much about the stories we tell as by the ones we live. Kundera had a lasting impact on the way we view not only our lives and society, but literature itself.

The passing of Milan Kundera in 2020 marked the end of one of the most influential careers in Czech literature. Kundera was an immense talent and pioneer, and his works remain universally celebrated to this day. Milan Kundera's works are a must-read for any lover of literature, philosophy, and art.