Albert Camus

Is it possible to die a happy death? This is the central question of Camus's astonishing early novel, published posthumously and greeted as a major literary event. It tells the story of a young Algerian, Mersault, who defies society's rules by committing a murder and escaping punishment, then experimenting with different ways of life and finally dying a happy man. In many ways A Happy Death is a fascinating first sketch for The Outsider, but it can also be seen as a candid self-portrait, drawing on Camus's memories of his youth, travels and early relationships. It is infused with lyrical descriptions of the sun-drenched Algiers of his childhood - the place where, eventually, Mersault is able to find peace and die 'without anger, without hatred, without regret'.

A Happy Death

In many ways this work can be seen as a first sketch for Camus's renowned early novel, The Outsider, but it can also be viewed as a candid self-portrait, drawing on Camus's memories of his youth, travels and early relationships.

juana de arco si estuviera cronicamente online

"You make the mistake of thinking you have to choose, that you have to do what you want, that there are conditions for happiness. What matters- all that matters, really- is the will to happiness, a kind of enormous, ever present consciousness. The rest- women, art, success- is nothing but excuses. A canvas waiting for our embroideries."

cedar winslow

He discovered the cruel paradox by which we always deceive ourselves twice about the people we love — first to their advantage, then to their disadvantage. 

Camus does such an amazing job at capturing the melancholy feeling of life but yet the innate, human desire to embrace it for the sake of embracing it

Abigail Marie

The French author reveals his feelings of alienation in this novel about a young man's search for the key to facing death without fear

Maximus

The story focuses on the character named Patrice Mersault, a young man who isn't happy with his life, nor the direction he thinks it is going. He is introduced to a rich bloke called Zagreus who cannot fully reap the fruits of his wealth due to the limitions from an accident that has left him wheelchair-bound.

Mersault and Zagreus become acquainted through Marthe (Mersault's girlfriend) and Zagreus explains that happiness can found in wealth and all that it has to offer. What's the logical conclusion in Mersault's mind? Yep, killing Zagerus and stealing his fortune.

Shortly after killing Zagreus, Mersault becomes ill. An almost Raskolnikov-esque series of events unfold. He travels to a few different places aiming to find somewhere to comfortably settle down and find happiness, pursuing a kind of retirement from his previous unhappy life.

This was challenging to read, however, I found it to be a philosophical tale, imbedded with a touch of irony. I kept in mind that this was Camus's first proper venture into writing a novel back in 1936. One which he never completed or thought would be published. The existence of this book is simply down to Camus's wife, Francine, who found the pages after he died and elected to have the book finalised and published. I found it to be okay, but others may enjoy this story more than I did.

Fooder

Bacanya bikin ngantuk dan bosan. Tapi kayaknya salahku aja yang pemalas

Meriem💫

jam 🍯

I think the parts that were the hardest for me to read were the ones in which I disagreed with the protagonist's theories and opinions. But by the end I was tearing through the book, trying to discern meaning behind a book that focuses on just being.

A Happy Death

Reviews

Highlights