The Unbearable Lightness of Being

'A cult figure.' Guardian

'A dark and brilliant achievement.' Ian McEwan

'Shamelessly clever ... Exhilaratingly subversive and funny.' Independent

'A modern classic ... As relevant now as when it was first published. ' John Banville



A young woman is in love with a successful surgeon; a man torn between his love for her and his womanising. His mistress, a free-spirited artist, lives her life as a series of betrayals; while her other lover stands to lose everything because of his noble qualities. In a world where lives are shaped by choices and events, and everything occurs but once, existence seems to lose its substance and weight - and we feel 'the unbearable lightness of being'.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being encompasses passion and philosophy, the Prague Spring and modern America, political acts and private desires, comedy and tragedy - in fact, all of human existence.

What readers are saying:

'Some books change your mind, some change your heart, the very best change your whole world ... A mighty piece of work, that will shape your life forever.'

'One of the best books I've ever read ... A book about love and life, full of surprises. Beautiful.'

'This book is going to change your life ... It definitely leaves you with a hangover after you're done reading.'

'A must read - loved it, such beautiful observations on life, love and sexuality.'

'Kundera writes about love as if in a trance so the beauty of it is enchanting and dreamy ... Will stay with you forever.'

'A beautiful novel that helps you understand life better ... Loved it.'

'One of those rare novels full of depth and insight into the human condition ... Got me reading Camus and Sartre.'

'One of the best books I have ever read ... An intellectual love story if ever there was one.'



The French-Czech novelist Milan Kundera was born in the Czech Republic and has lived in France since 1975. He died in Paris in 2023.