The classic of literary criticism from one of the worlds greatest novelists. In seven independent, but closely related chapters, Milan Kundera presents his personal conception of the European novel, which he describes as an art born of the laughter of God. Invigoratingly suggestive . . . Kunderas map of the development of the European novel is outlined with the reckless The classic of literary criticism from one of the worlds greatest novelists. In seven independent, but closely related chapters, Milan Kundera presents his personal conception of the European novel, which he describes as an art born of the laughter of God. Invigoratingly suggestive . . . Kunderas map of the development of the European novel is outlined with the reckless brevity of the man who knows exactly what and where the salient points are. London Review of Books Kundera is the saddest, funniest and most loveable of authors. The Times