THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING by Kundera, Milan (Translated by Michael Henry Heim) - 1984

New York City, NY: Harper & Row, 1984. First Edition. First Printing.. Hardcover. Fine/Fine Dust Jacket.. New York City, NY: Harper & Row, 1984. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. First Edition/First Printing. 314 pages. The author's sixth book. One of the greatest novels of the 20th century. Review Copy. Review Materials laid-in, notably a beautiful 5 X 7 inch single-weight silver-gelatin print of his celebrated portrait by Aaron Asher. The first appearance of the title in English and in the United States. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions, particularly the "20th Anniversary Edition" Edition issued in 2004. The First Edition is now scarce. Presents Milan Kundera's "Nesnesitelna lehkost byti" in a felicitous English translation. The author's masterpiece. Ostensibly a love story involving a triangle, we are not aware of any other modern literary work that deals so eloquently and beautifully with recurrence as the essential aspect of existence. "The idea of eternal return is a mysterious one, and Nietzsche has often perplexed other philosophers with it: To think that everything recurs as we once experienced it, and that the recurrence itself recurs" (Milan Kundera). "Raises the novel of ideas to a new level of dream-like lyricism and emotional intensity" (Jim Miller). The basis of the brilliant film by Phil Kaufman, with Juliette Binoche and Daniel Day-Lewis in career-peak performances. An absolute "must-have" title for Milan Kundera collectors. <b><i> This is a Review Copy. The Review Materials are laid-in, notably a beautiful 5 X 7 inch single-weight silver-gelatin print of his celebrated portrait by Aaron Asher. This title is a great book. This is one of very few Review Copies of the First Hardcover Edition/First Printing (American) still available online and despite its imperfection (minimal offsetting on the front free endpaper inadvertently caused by the Review Material over time, but it's there) is still in especially fine condition: Clean, crisp, and bright. Please note: Copies available online have serious flaws, are in innumerable subsequent printings, or are remainder-marked. This is surely an accessible and lovely alternative. A scarce copy thus. </b></I> Regarded by Harold Bloom as one of the canonical novels of the 20th century. One of the greatest writers of our time. A fine collectible copy. (SEE ALSO OTHER MILAN KUNDERA TITLES IN OUR CATALOG). ISBN 0060152583.