Quatre-vingt-neuf mots / Prague, poème qui disparaît

by Milan Kundera

Ce volume reprend deux textes initialement parus dans Le Débat. Le premier, Quatre-vingt-neuf mots, publié en 1985, constitue une explication avec son propre vocabulaire d'un écrivain confronté à une double épreuve : l'exil, la vie dans une autre langue que sa langue maternelle, et les trahisons de la traduction. Le second, Prague, poème qui disparaît, paru en 1980, est un plaidoyer pour la culture de la "petite nation" dans laquelle il s'est formé et qui a nourri la spécificité de son oeuvre. On y trouve, avec la même nostalgie angoissée que dans Un Occident kidnappé, la double condamnation de la "civilisation soviétique" qui a étouffé et persécuté cette culture, et de l'Europe occidentale qui ne sait pas la reconnaître, ni même la connaître.

À l'heure où Milan Kundera nous quitte, la reprise et le rapprochement de ces deux textes nous le rendent dans sa présence la plus vive. Nous formons le voeu qu'ils soient pour certains lecteurs la meilleure des introductions à l'univers romanesque de Milan Kundera, et qu'ils permettent à d'autres de le retrouver dans son ironie ravageuse et sa subtilité de jugement.

Genres: Essays, Poetry, Nonfiction, Czech Literature, History

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Milan Kundera (1 April 1929 – 11 July 2023) was a Czech and French novelist. He went into exile in France in 1975, acquiring citizenship in 1981. His Czechoslovak citizenship was revoked in 1979, but he was granted Czech citizenship in 2019.

Kundera wrote in Czech and French. He revises the French translations of all his books; people therefore consider these original works as not translations. He is best known for his novels, including The Joke (1967), The Book of Laughter and Forgetting (1979), and The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1984), all of which exhibit his extreme though often comical skepticism.

Reviews

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an audiobook that should be listened to twice through. It is somewhat dense for audio listening, and may do better reading the words. However, that was the copy that I had and did not have the opportunity to listen through twice. The work is short enough that it can be read entirely in one day.

The introduction gives a very brief biography of Milan Kundera. The second section is the essay 89 Words. These are the words Kundera found important or significant, and often appear in his novels.
The last section is the essay/poem called: Prague, A Disappearing Poem. It does start out like poetry but ends up more similar to an essay. It discusses Prague and some of its history.

It was said this is a good introduction to Kundera’s works. I have read three of his books, although it was quite some time ago, they are not fresh in my memory. However, I believe one would do better having familiarity with Kundera’s novels. Often he refers to characters and situations located in his books and it would help to be acquainted with those.

Kundera speaks often about the words in his translations. Sometimes the translator gives a different word or phrase than what Kundera was trying to get across in his writings. Also, how some translations were done from another translation, and meaning there got distorted at times. Certainly this can be a problem with all translations.

Book rating: 3.5

Thanks to HarperAudio Adult, William Morrow and NetGalley for an advanced audio copy of this book.

[Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Acuto e struggente.

[Dessislava · Rating 4 out of 5]

Винаги е удоволствие, ако ще и Кундера да говори и за чорапите си, което той не прави, защото е доста над битовизмите и техните дребни проявления.

Изданието съдържа две есета, писани и издадени през 80-те години във френското списание "Льо Деба" и чийто редактор ги обединява и издавана в отделна книга след смъртта на автора миналата година. Ако харесвате Кундера и сте го чели, прочетете ги, ще спечелите поредната хубава среща с него. Ако пък не сте чели нищо негово и се чудите дали да започнете с тази книга само защото е кратка, не се опитвайте, нищо няма да разберете. Подходете по-сериозно и действайте с някой роман.

[Tymianek · Rating 4 out of 5]

In my kundERA

[Maurizio Manco · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Bellezza, l’ultima possibile vittoria dell’uomo che non ha più speranza. Bellezza nell’arte: luce repentinamente accesa del mai-detto. Questa luce che si irradia dai grandi romanzi, il tempo non riesce a offuscarla: poiché infatti l’esistenza umana viene costantemente dimenticata dall’uomo, le scoperte dei romanzieri, per quanto vecchie, non cesseranno mai di stupirci." (pp. 51, 52)

[Ghadeer Hussein · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great intro to Kundera’s world! I enjoyed every bit of it

[Sofiya Gecheva · Rating 5 out of 5]

"МУЗУМРАЗЕЦ. Не е страшно да нямаш усет за изкуството. Можеш да не четеш Пруст, да не слушаш Шуберт и пак да си живееш спокойно. Само че музомразецът не си живее спокойно. Той се чувства унизен от съществуването на нещо, което не разбира, затова го мрази. Съществува популярно музомразие, така както има популярен антисемитизъм. Фашистките и комунистическите режими умееха да се възползват от него, когато преследваха модерното изкуство. Но съществува и интелектуално, изтънчено музомразие - то си отмъщава на изкуството, като го подчинява на цел, разположена отвъд естетиката. Доктрината на ангажираното изкуство - изкуството като средство на определена политика. Различните специалисти, за които произведението на изкуството е само претекст за прилагането на определен метод (психоаналитичен, семиологичен, социологичен и т.н.). Апокалипсисът на изкуството ще настъпи, когато музомразците сами се нагърбят да правят изкуство. Така ще се осъществи тяхното историческо отмъщение."

[Chiara Nozza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Credevo di trovare qualcosa di più sconvolgente, ma è uno sguardo interessante su Praga. Veloce indolore

[nina okechukwu · Rating 4 out of 5]

“forgetting: an absolute injustice and absolute consolation at the same time.”

starting my year off with new kundera; always a pleasure to read his words

[Alex]

The concert of reading a translated book on the betrayals of translation

[Pablo García · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years after reading Milan Kundera for the last time, his 89 Words is like "fresh air".
From someone who constantly thinks about everything, all the time, to someone who is just the same.
On the first page, of this new book, Kundera writes: "Translation is like a woman: either beautiful or faithful."
I would say that translation for it to be any good has to explain the written words precisely, but also explain the unwritten thoughts/ideas that went into (or didn't) the writing being translated.
Just like there is verbal communication, there is also body language (intention, perception, unsaid communication) that sometimes is essential to the understanding of the book, poem, story, ideas being written/published.
For instance, if one is not aware that Japanese have a specific poem called Haiku, then translating it raw, but precise, losing it's creative format, style and context, is lost. If this is lost, then the translation translates the written words, but not the author's intention.
I entered my first Amazon: Goodreads Raffle for a copy of this book. Because the length of the sweepstakes is so long, I could not help myself and read this really short, new, Milan Kundera book that is just 76 pages long, of those total pages, real writing by Kundera is less than 45 pages. 45 pages to me, today, is like a snapshot, 10-15 minutes to read, way too short to be memorable, but way too important not to read now.
Today, if a book is not 8-12-20-24 thousand pages I struggle to find reasons to dare to read it (even if it's from an author that writes well, has written good books or has entertained/informed/educated me before.
I recommend Milan Kundera. His thinking, his style, his ideas are different, like fresh air to me. Being a Cold War dissident from Czech Republic, describes so little of the gargantuan achievement that it was to escape the "Iron Curtain" for Socialist France, the "Cultural Capital of the World".

[Annaliese · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Characters are shrinking in today’s novels … I imagine literature’s death: little by little, without anyone realizing it, characters will become so small that they’re completely invisible.”

I was really intrigued by the premise of 89 Words: Kundera is disappointed in translations of his work from Czech and, while he attempts to write in French, he collects these 89 French words (or phrases) that are dear to him. I find this section in itself quite a brave undertaking by the translator, Matt Reeck, as the semantics of individual words, meanings, and synonyms are often hard to pinpoint from one language to another (in this case, French to English).

This section is rewarding for Kundera fans because he analyses many of the words central to the titles or plots of his books; for example, “ugly,” “lightness,” or “laughter.”

In Prague, A Disappearing Poem, Kundera looks at Prague through its literary tradition and history, citing authors such as Kafka, Hašek, and Čapek. A bit over my head with all the references.

I would recommend this volume for fans of Kundera who have consumed a great deal of his work. Otherwise, his reflections may not be as impactful. I requested this because I was interested in Kundera’s work, but I will need to return to this one day when I have read more of his bibliography.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.

[Mait Harkey · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 January 2026

3.5 stars

It feels almost silly to be reading a book about the struggles of being a writer read in translation...in translation. But here we are.

89 Words is Kundera's "personal dictionary" of words and phrases that are very important and precise for him--words that have given his translators trouble, or words that he is warning his translators against changing and replacing. In it we see snapshots of scenes from his fictional works, as well as his thoughts on the state of Europe and the state of literature.

In Prague, a Disappearing Poem, Kundera dives deeper into the beauty and color and uniqueness of Prague. He talks about influential Czech writers before him and the things those authors' characters reveal about the identity of the Central European city. I will say that this essay required some background knowledge I did not have (I had not read or even heard of many of the Czech authors and characters around which this essay centers), but it felt like a valuable perspective to read nonetheless, and gave me a small peek into the artistry and rebelliousness and humor of Prague.

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un libro che è un ritratto di Praga, della sua storia culturale e delle figure di spicco che l’hanno rappresentata nelle diverse arti. Dopo l’invasione russa della Cecoslovacchia, avvenuta nel 1968 Kundera descrive Praga come «un foglio di carta in fiamme / dove scompare la poesia».
Infatti, il regime totalitario non ha solo eliminato diritti e democrazia ma anche appiattito la cultura locale. Le descrizioni dei lavori di artisti come Kafka, Hašek e Janacek fanno così riemergere quello che è stato inabissato. Lo scritto comprende anche un dizionario personale dell’autore (Ottantanove parole) che chiarisce le «parole chiave» della sua poetica e dei suoi romanzi (anche per "proteggerle" dalle imprecisioni della traduzione, soprattutto in francese). Un libro interessante, soprattutto per curiosare nello stile dell’autore.

"Arriva il momento in cui l’immagine della nostra vita si separa dalla vita stessa, diventa indipendente e comincia, a poco poco, a dominarci"

⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Michelle Atkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

His 89 words peaked in its mediation on translation, and suffered in his points on women. The real gem is in Prague, a Disappearing Poem, where Kundera locates the centre of the centuries old Czech identity problem in the literature and the arts. The Czech struggle between West/East is brought to the forefront here in an unabashed appraisal of the Czech western identity. A very interesting insight into a cultural struggle.

[⁠V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Великолепен Кундера.

За целия си живот като читател до ден-днешен не съм усещала толкова силна връзка с писател така, както с него. От стила му на писане — разпознаваем от първия ред — през идеите, които защитава (специално в тази книга), до въпросите, които поставя, които остават. Толкова близък, толкова важен, толкова насъщен.

С благодарност към преводачите и издателите му в България.

[James Klagge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Translations of 2 pieces from 1985. Clever and interesting commentary on 89 important concepts/words in his work, and a sort of cultural commentary on his country. I thoroughly enjoyed this short read, and I'm glad it was preserved for us English readers. Reminded me why I like Kundera, since his late novellas weren't all that engaging...

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non ci riconosco la Praga d'oggi - ci sento l'eco di cent'anni fa. È la poesia di cui parla Kundera già scomparsa? Nemmeno posso saperlo - non l'ha conosciuta io. Contuttociò mi sembra che riconoscerla sia un lavoro anziché un passatempo che si prenda alla leggera.

[Kaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

This book is fascinating, especially in the eyes of a linguist. All the nuances around translating in a different language are spelled out and examined against the original writer's message and intent.

[Elodie Drt · Rating 3 out of 5]

C'était la deuxième partie de l'ouvrage qui m'intéressait pour mieux comprendre la ville de Prague. J'aurais aimé avoir ce petit texte plus tôt quand je déambulais dans les rues de la capitale.

[Vittore Luccio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un piccolo libro molto denso utile a capire un po’ meglio il mondo che ci circonda.

[Magdalena M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Европа на малките нации е една друга Европа, тя има друг поглед и мисълта й често формира истинския контрапункт на Европа на големите"

Из "Прага, една изчезнала поема"

[Edoardo Piccioni · Rating 4 out of 5]

E va bene maratona Kundera il prima possibile

[Ahmed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Undoubtedly well written.

[Maria Freeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

- The “89 Words” were hit or miss for me
- Deeply enjoyed “Prague, A Disappearing Poem”

[Chiara Brandelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bello anzi bellissimo!!!!! Che grande scrittore e che belle riflessioni

[Maia Morgan]

A must read if you are a fan of Milan Kundera !!!

[Edited] This is an essay so I’ve removed my initial rating.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

My thanks to Harper and NetGalley for an eARC of this title (October 2025).
But really, for Kundera completists only.
While I do appreciate Harper publishing his earlier, non-major, work, I do have an issue with them publishing it in small portions, at not inexpensive prices (similar to the earlier "A Kidnapped West" [2023]). One large volume would do the trick.
"89 Words" (1985) is a dictionary of his own of sorts. Expounding on some of his ideas and principles, but also his issue with translators. And it sounds like the early ones murdered his prose and ideas and style!
"Prague" is from 1980, and is nice background piece. Again, for Kundera completists only
I do enjoy Kundera, and find his insights and humor appealing. I just wish it was offered to us in large batches at a time. It appears that what we have been offered so far has been translated, and published in journals already. So it is not like Harper is waiting on a translation to be completed in order to publish the pieces.

[Mia Caven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Kundera's writing man

[Simona Lazzaro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un piccolo saggio interessante su Praga e un’appendice - quella sul piccolo vocabolario essenziale di Kundera - molto piacevole per coloro che amano l’autore(e hanno già letto molti dei suoi libri, essendo pieno di spoiler). C’è da dire che ci vuole un certo coraggio a far pagare questo librino di cento pagine scarse dodici euro…

Consigliato solo se avete già letto e amate Kundera, altrimenti meglio acquistare i suoi romanzi.