Who is Kundera or from The Book of Laughter and Forgetting and what is their importance?

Throughout the novel, Kundera or the character "I" appears to give factual accounts of historical events that serve as a backdrop to the vignettes. By juxtaposing historical accounts with those of fictional characters, the newly created renditions add color and personality. Through his illustration of past events, Kundera provides his own perspective and thoughts. The author uses the stories to incorporate personal analysis and to promote various concepts, which include death, forgetting, memory, the past, inclusion, laughter, and more.