#383
Mentioned in 6 episodes
The Book of Laughter and Forgetting
Book • 1978
The Book of Laughter and Forgetting is a novel that defies traditional genre classification, incorporating elements of fairy tale, literary criticism, political tract, musicology, and autobiography.
Published in 1979, it was Kundera's first major international success.
The book is set in postwar Czechoslovakia and explores the lives of several characters as they navigate the complexities of memory, history, and personal relationships under the shadow of totalitarianism.
It delves into themes such as the struggle of memory against forgetting, the nature of laughter, and the interplay between public and private lives.
Kundera's unique narrative style, which includes philosophical asides and surreal elements, challenges readers to reconsider their assumptions about history, love, and human identity.
Published in 1979, it was Kundera's first major international success.
The book is set in postwar Czechoslovakia and explores the lives of several characters as they navigate the complexities of memory, history, and personal relationships under the shadow of totalitarianism.
It delves into themes such as the struggle of memory against forgetting, the nature of laughter, and the interplay between public and private lives.
Kundera's unique narrative style, which includes philosophical asides and surreal elements, challenges readers to reconsider their assumptions about history, love, and human identity.
Mentioned by
Mentioned in 6 episodes
Mentioned by 
Eli Lake to illustrate parallels between current political events and historical instances of rewriting history.
Eli Lake to illustrate parallels between current political events and historical instances of rewriting history.
23 snips
Kamala Harris and the Election of Laughter and Forgetting
Mentioned by Eli Lake to illustrate the absurdist rewriting of history and the manipulation of public perception.
Eli Lake to illustrate the absurdist rewriting of history and the manipulation of public perception.
Kamala Harris and the Election of Laughter and Forgetting (From the Honestly Archives)
