Roza Hakmen Libros

Milan Kundera’s new collection of essays is a passionate defence of art in an era that, he argues, no longer values art or beauty. With the same dazzling mix of emotion and idea that characterizes his novels he illuminates the art and artists who remain important to him and whose work helps us better understand the world. An astute and brilliant reader of fiction, Kundera applies these same gifts to the reading of Francis Bacon’s paintings, Leos Janfcek’s music, the films of Federico Fellini, as well as to the novels of Philip Roth, Dostoyevsky and García Mfrquez, among others. He also takes up the challenge of restoring to their rightful place the works of major writers such as Anatole France and Curzio Malaparte who have fallen into obscurity.Milan Kundera’s signature themes of memory and forgetting, the experience of exile, and his spirited championing of modernist art mark these essays. Art, he argues, is what we have to cleave to in the face of evil, against the expression of the darker side of human nature. Elegant, startlingly original and provocative, Encounter follows Kundera’s essay collections, The Art of the Novel, Testaments Betrayed and The Curtain.

This story unfolds through Louis's own narrative, detailing his journey through both mortal and immortal existence. He describes his transformation into a vampire by the radiant yet sinister Lestat, leading him into an unwilling embrace of the vampire lifestyle. Key moments include his poignant encounter with Claudia, a lost young child he wishes to comfort, ultimately making her a vampire and trapping her youthful spirit within a child's body. Their bond strengthens as they temporarily settle in the opulent French Quarter. Together, they grapple with their identities and their shared animosity towards Lestat, prompting a quest across the globe for others like them. Their travels take them to Europe and the Theatre des Vampires in Paris, where they meet the captivating Armand, who introduces them to a broader vampire society. However, their search for belonging reveals unforeseen dangers. Originally conceived as a short story, the narrative evolves into a rich exploration of the characters' tragic and triumphant experiences, reflecting the political and social shifts of two continents. The novel also introduces Lestat, a complex character embodying both allure and repulsion, while delving into themes of immortality, change, loss, sexuality, and power through lush descriptions.