Journal of European Studies
Volume 44, Issue 2, 2014, Pages 112-133

Kundera's kidnap revisited (Article)

Tighe C.*
  • a University of Derby, United Kingdom

Abstract

This article is concerned with Milan Kundera's essay 'A kidnapped West, or Culture bows out', which first appeared in 1984. It considers Kundera's essay in the context of the Reagan/Thatcher/Kohl era, examining the mythical elements of Kundera's 'Central Europe', its diversity and its unifying elements. Rather than regard the essay as a museum piece, the article reflects on Kundera's lasting and unresolved concern with the impact of totalitarianism - communist, Nazi and capitalist - on European identity and culture. © The Author(s) 2013.

Author Keywords

culture communist Europe writers the West post-literature Milan Kundera Central Europe Eastern Europe

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84901016747&doi=10.1177%2f0047244113508364&partnerID=40&md5=3918f816f602d491bdb3182343a0cf22
DOI: 10.1177/0047244113508364
ISSN: 00472441
Original Language: English