Slowness

Slowness (البطء) is the first novel written directly in French by acclaimed author Milan Kundera. Set in a converted French chateau where Kundera and his wife spend a weekend, the novel seamlessly weaves together two parallel narratives spanning two different centuries. One storyline revolves around an elegant, 18th-century amorous encounter based on a novella by Vivant Denon—a world characterized by subtlety, patience, and the art of delay. The other storyline follows a contemporary conference of entomologists and politicians trapped in a frantic, speed-obsessed reality where personal ego, media performance, and superficiality reign supreme. Kundera reflects on the existential equation connecting slowness with memory, and speed with forgetting, delivering a witty critique of modern society's obsession with instant gratification.

Because it offers a sharp, entertaining reflection on modern life, prompting readers to question our fast-paced culture and rediscover the art of savoring time.

For fans of philosophical fiction, satire, modern classics, and anyone seeking a thoughtful critique of our hyper-accelerated, media-driven culture.