A review by mbahnaf
The Farewell Party by Milan Kundera, Philip Roth

4.0

“The longing for order is at the same time a longing for death, because life is an incessant disruption of order.”

The Farewell Party is Kundera's third novel. The story has a very theatrical approach to comedy: we have eight equally obnoxious characters, none of whom have a central role. However each of them are a pivotal element in the plot. The characters are introduced one by one in a remote spa-town in Czechoslovakia, set in the early 1970's. Under the comedic theme of the novel, there are darker undertones of coercion, blackmail, seduction, infidelity and even murder. Kundera uses perspectivism to show each character's unique viewpoint and logic in carrying out their (often questionable) deeds.

I absolutely adored the writing on this novel. Kundera's charming wordplay and his use of sexual politics are present here in its full glory. He also touches up on some political themes as it is written after the Soviet invasion and the crushing of Prague Spring.