The Unbearable Lightness of Being
The Unbearable Lightness of Being is Milan Kundera's novel, first published in French by Gallimard in Paris in 1984; Faber & Faber issued Michael Henry Heim's English translation in London that year. Set around the 1968 Prague Spring, it weighs love against freedom.
- Editions tracked
- 1
- First edition
- Faber & Faber, 1984
- First published
- Gallimard, Paris, 1984
- First UK edition
- Faber & Faber, 1984
The first edition of The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera was published in London by Faber & Faber in 1984. We track 1 edition.
Which edition do you have?
First edition
- 1st Faber & Faber1984 Hardback I own The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Faber & Faber 1984 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
Adaptations
- The Unbearable Lightness of Being film, 1988
Setting and characters
- Characters
- Tereza, Sabina, Tomáš
- Genre
- philosophical fiction
In print
- Editions recorded
- 81 on Open Library, 19 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 45 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
Pictures of the book
Freely licensed pictures of the work. They are not necessarily the edition you hold: check the points on each edition's page.
More by Milan Kundera
CollectorsNot sure which edition you have, or want to tell other collectors about your copy?
Ask a question
Write a review
Read it or own it? Share what The Unbearable Lightness of Being is like to read or collect.
Know what you are looking at
How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Who published the first edition of The Unbearable Lightness of Being?
The first edition of The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera was published in London by Faber & Faber in 1984.
How many editions of The Unbearable Lightness of Being are there?
We track 1 edition of The Unbearable Lightness of Being, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Has The Unbearable Lightness of Being been adapted?
Yes, including The Unbearable Lightness of Being (film, 1988), according to Wikidata.
Where these facts come from
- The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Milan Kundera, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, First Edition 1984, John Atkinson Books (johnatkinsonbooks.co.uk)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 17 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.