The Art of the Novel is not a "how-to" manual for writing. Instead, it is a philosophical defense of the novel as an art form. Kundera argues that the novel is a unique way of understanding human existence that philosophy and science cannot capture. He traces the history of the novel from Cervantes to modern times, analyzing how the form has evolved and how it has been misunderstood.
: He identifies "kitsch"—the "beautifying lie" that ignores the harsh realities of existence—as a primary enemy of the novel and individual thought. Books & Boots Structure of the Work milan kundera the art of the novel pdf top