About the book
\"A defense of fiction and a lesson in the art of reading.\" —New York Times Book Review
\"Testaments Betrayed is to be savored paragraph by paragraph. . . . It must be purchased, read, pondered, and argued within the margins. And frequently reread.\" — Washington Post
A brilliant and thought-provoking essay from one of the twentieth century’s masters of fiction, Testaments Betrayed is written like a novel: the same characters appear and reappear throughout the nine parts of the book, as do the principal themes that preoccupy the author. Kundera is a passionate defender of the moral rights of the artist and the respect due a work of art and its creator’s wishes. The betrayal of both—often by their most passionate proponents—is one of the key ideas that informs this strikingly original and elegant book.
In nine interlocking parts, this landmark essay on art, the novel, and music reveals the secret laws of composition and the testaments they leave behind.
- The European Novel: Discover the secret history of the novel as an art form, from the comic genius of Rabelais and Cervantes to the modernism of Hermann Broch and Robert Musil.
- Franz Kafka's Comic Genius: A provocative rereading of Kafka that rejects the image of a tortured saint to reveal a master of dark humor, eroticism, and radical poetic freedom.
- Music and Literature: Explore the surprising connections between musical and novelistic composition through incisive essays on Stravinsky, Janacek, Hemingway, and Tolstoy.
- The Author's Betrayed Testament: A passionate defense of the artist’s intentions against the betrayals of translators, biographers, and executors who would distort a work's original meaning.
Editions of Testaments Betrayed
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780060927516
- EBook
- ISBN 9780063290945
Read an Excerpt
\"A defense of fiction and a lesson in the art of reading.\" —New York Times Book Review
\"Testaments Betrayed is to be savored paragraph by paragraph. . . . It must be purchased, read, pondered, and argued within the margins. And frequently reread.\" — Washington Post
A brilliant and thought-provoking essay from one of the twentieth century’s masters of fiction, Testaments Betrayed is written like a novel: the same characters appear and reappear throughout the nine parts of the book, as do the principal themes that preoccupy the author. Kundera is a passionate defender of the moral rights of the artist and the respect due a work of art and its creator’s wishes. The betrayal of both—often by their most passionate proponents—is one of the key ideas that informs this strikingly original and elegant book.
In nine interlocking parts, this landmark essay on art, the novel, and music reveals the secret laws of composition and the testaments they leave behind.
- The European Novel: Discover the secret history of the novel as an art form, from the comic genius of Rabelais and Cervantes to the modernism of Hermann Broch and Robert Musil.
- Franz Kafka's Comic Genius: A provocative rereading of Kafka that rejects the image of a tortured saint to reveal a master of dark humor, eroticism, and radical poetic freedom.
- Music and Literature: Explore the surprising connections between musical and novelistic composition through incisive essays on Stravinsky, Janacek, Hemingway, and Tolstoy.
- The Author's Betrayed Testament: A passionate defense of the artist’s intentions against the betrayals of translators, biographers, and executors who would distort a work's original meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Testaments Betrayed about?
\"A defense of fiction and a lesson in the art of reading.\" —New York Times Book Review
\"Testaments Betrayed is to be savored paragraph by paragraph. . . . It must be purchased, read, pondered, and argued within the margins. And frequently reread.\" — Washington Post
A brilliant and thought-provoking essay from one of the twentieth century’s masters of fiction, Testaments Betrayed is written like a novel: the same characters appear and reappear throughout the nine parts of the book, as do the principal themes that preoccupy the author. Kundera is a passionate defender of the moral rights of the artist and the respect due a work of art and its creator’s wishes. The betrayal of both—often by their most passionate proponents—is one of the key ideas that informs this strikingly original and elegant book.
In nine interlocking parts, this landmark essay on art, the novel, and music reveals the secret laws of composition and the testaments they leave behind.
- The European Novel: Discover the secret history of the novel as an art form, from the comic genius of Rabelais and Cervantes to the modernism of Hermann Broch and Robert Musil.
- Franz Kafka's Comic Genius: A provocative rereading of Kafka that rejects the image of a tortured saint to reveal a master of dark humor, eroticism, and radical poetic freedom.
- Music and Literature: Explore the surprising connections between musical and novelistic composition through incisive essays on Stravinsky, Janacek, Hemingway, and Tolstoy.
- The Author's Betrayed Testament: A passionate defense of the artist’s intentions against the betrayals of translators, biographers, and executors who would distort a work's original meaning.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Testaments Betrayed?
Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > Gender studies, gender groups > Gender studies: women and girls
Where can I read a sample of Testaments Betrayed?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780060927516
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Testaments Betrayed?
Milan Kundera
Who is the Publisher of the book Testaments Betrayed?
HarperCollins
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Testaments Betrayed is available as paperback(ISBN 9780060927516) and ebook(ISBN 9780063290945)
Where can I buy Testaments Betrayed online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Testaments Betrayed from below
Where can I buy Testaments Betrayed?