Milan Kundera | Literary Fiction

The Joke by Milan Kundera

Name: The Joke by Milan Kundera
Brand: Fehmerling Books
SKU: 006099505
Price: 18.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780060995058

The Joke by Milan Kundera

$18.00 USD

Sale Sold out

Shipping calculated at checkout.

Book Specifications

Format: Paperback
Condition: Good
Publisher: HarperPerennial (1993)
Length: 317 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
ISBN: 9780060995058
LCCN: 91058349
OCLC: 234124384

Quantity

Ships within 1–2 business days. Carefully packaged for safe delivery.

A Satirical Czech Masterpiece of Totalitarian Postcards, Forced Labor, and Failed Revenge

In 1950s Communist Czechoslovakia, university student and loyal party member Ludvik Jahn sends a playful, sarcastic postcard to a girl he is courting, writing: "Optimism is the opium of the people! Long live Trotsky!" Denounced by classmate Pavel Zemanek, Ludvik is expelled from university and forced into penal military labor in coal mines.

Fifteen years later, an embittered Ludvik attempts to exact revenge by seducing Pavel's estranged wife Helena, only to discover that historical circumstances and shifting politics render his carefully planned retribution absurd.

Why You’ll Love This Book

Milan Kundera's famous debut novel offers a scathing, brilliant critique of totalitarian bureaucracy and human irony. Essential reading for fans of Franz Kafka, George Orwell, and Václav Havel.

Condition & Grading Guide

How We Grade Our Books

📸 True-to-Life Photos: For all vintage and pre-loved books, the photos on the page are of the exact physical copy on our shelf. Brand-new books feature official publisher cover art.
New: Direct from the publisher; immaculate, unread condition.
Like New: Pristine condition with minimal to no shelf wear; looks unread.
Very Good: Lightly read with minor shelf wear or light cover creasing. Pages are clean, crisp, and unmarked with a tight binding. (Our baseline standard for pre-loved books.)
Good: A well-loved reading copy with visible shelf wear or page aging, but fully intact and structurally sound.

Packaging & Shipping

Shipping Details & Delivery Speeds

FREE Domestic Shipping: Standard shipping is free on all U.S. orders $50+.
Standard Flat-Rate Shipping: Orders under $50 ship at flat, weight-based rates starting at $6.99.
Tracking Included: You will receive an automated tracking link via email as soon as your order is packed and labeled.
Expedited Shipping Available: Need it faster? UPS 2nd Day Air is available at checkout (ships out the next business day).

Read our full shipping policy here

The Fehmerling Guarantee

Our Guarantee & Return Policy

14-Day Returns: Unread books and unopened tea packages can be returned within 14 days of delivery.
Damaged in Transit? If your shipment arrives damaged or incorrect, email us within 72 hours of delivery scan at customerservice@fehmerlingbooks.com. We’ll evaluate it immediately and provide a prepaid return label and replacement or full refund.
Hassle-Free Support: To start a return, simply email us with your order number.

Read our full return & refund policy here