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Author Description
In this dark farce of a novel, set in an old-fashioned Central European spa town, eight characters are swept up in an accelerating dance: a pretty nurse and her repairman boyfriend; an oddball gynecologist; a rich American (at once saint and Don Juan); a popular trumpeter and his beautiful, obsessively jealous wife; and unillusioned former political prisoner about to leave his country and his young woman ward. Perhaps the most brilliantly plotted and sheerly entertaining of Milan Kundera's novels, Farewell Waltz poses the most serious questions with a blasphemous lightness that makes us see that the modern world has deprived us even of the right to tragedy. Written in Bohemia in 1969-70, this book was first published (in 1976) in France under the title La valse aux adieux (Farewell Waltz), and later in thirty-four other countries. This beautiful new translation, made from the French text prepared by the novelist himself, fully reflects his own tone and intentions. As such it offers an opportunity for both the discovery and the rediscovery of one of the very best of a great writer's work.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
Eight disparate characters in a Central European spa town are drawn into a complex, interconnected narrative of love, jealousy, and existential questioning. A pretty nurse and her boyfriend, a peculiar gynecologist, a wealthy American with a dual nature, a popular trumpeter and his possessive wife, and a former political prisoner preparing to emigrate all find their lives entangled. The novel explores themes of fate, freedom, and the modern loss of tragedy, all within a framework of dark farce and philosophical inquiry.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- A cast of eight distinct characters whose lives intersect in unexpected ways.
- A setting in an old-fashioned Central European spa town.
- Exploration of themes such as love, jealousy, fate, and the nature of tragedy.
- A narrative structure that weaves together multiple storylines.
- A tone that blends dark humor with serious philosophical questions.
- The impending departure of a former political prisoner and his ward.
- A critique of the modern world's impact on human experience.
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
This novel is recognized as one of Milan Kundera's most brilliantly plotted and entertaining works, noted for its ability to pose profound questions with a 'blasphemous lightness.' The book's structure, weaving together the lives of eight characters in a spa town, has been praised for its intricate design and thematic depth. It is seen as a significant exploration of modern existential concerns, particularly the perceived loss of the capacity for genuine tragedy in contemporary society. The new translation is highlighted for its fidelity to the author's original tone and intentions, offering a fresh perspective on a celebrated work.
Page Count:
209
Publication Date:
1987-01-01
ISBN-10:
0140096949
ISBN-13:
9780140096941
Health
Literary Fiction
Fiction
Dark Humor
Philosophical
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