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Milan Kundera, the renowned Czech writer known for his exploration of existence and betrayal, has passed away at the age of 94 after a prolonged illness, according to Anna Mrazova, spokeswoman for the Milan Kundera Library.
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Kundera, who left his homeland for France in 1975 due to his expulsion from the Czechoslovakian Communist party, spent four decades in exile in Paris. During this time, he wrote his most famous works, including "The Unbearable Lightness of Being." He later transitioned to writing novels in French.
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Throughout his career, Kundera was frequently mentioned as a possible recipient of the Nobel Prize in literature.
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Born in 1929 in Brno, Kundera initially studied music before turning to writing. Despite facing challenges in the politically restrictive environment of 1950s Czechoslovakia, he gained literary recognition with the publication of poems, plays, and his first novel, "The Joke."
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As an enthusiastic member of the Communist party during his youth, Kundera was expelled twice due to his "anti-communist activities" and his involvement in the 1968 Prague Spring movement. Following his move to France, he became a French citizen and achieved international acclaim with the publication of "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" in 1984.
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Kundera was critical of the simplification of his work in the film adaptation of his novel and expressed concerns about media misrepresentation of authors' words.
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In 1988, Kundera published his last novel in Czech, titled "Immortality," followed by a series of shorter novels in French that explored themes of nostalgia, memory, and the longing for home.
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Accused in 2008 of betraying a Czech airman working for US intelligence, Kundera vehemently denied the allegations.
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In 2019, after 40 years of living abroad, Kundera and his wife's Czech citizenship was reinstated. This symbolic gesture was followed by the delivery of Kundera's citizenship certificate by the Czech Republic's ambassador to France.
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Milan Kundera's contribution to literature and his unique perspectives on human existence continue to resonate with readers worldwide.