In Albert Camus’ 46 years, he changed and challenged social and literary landscapes with his philosophical interventions in every format. From essays and plays to novels and short stories, the Algerian author largely focused on the absurd, the idea that humans exist in a purposeless, chaotic universe beyond their control, and analyzed the human response to uncertainty and reasonlessness. Though his most famous work is indisputably The Stranger, an exploration of the emotionally detached Meursault’s condemnation from society, Albert Camus’ expansive catalogue has well earned a space on your bookshelf. However, read with caution: Camus’ grappling with the absurd will surely take up residence in your mind.
Trigger Warning: The mention of murder and suicide may be triggering to some readers. Please exercise personal care when reading.
The Myth of Sisyphus
In his 1942 philosophical essay, Camus explores “the absurd”. Credited with further developing and popularizing absurdism, The Myth of Sisyphus explores the concept by using the myth of Sisyphus’ eternal punishment — pushing a boulder up a hill — as a metaphor for the human condition. What humans seek (answers, meaning, order, reasons, etc.) and the universe’s reality (formless chaos) are fundamental concepts to Camus; life itself will never provide the meaning that we search for. To open this thought provoking essay, Camus asks us: if life does not have meaning, does that mean that life is not worth living?
Caligula
Camus’ 1944 play, Caligula, focuses on the infamous Roman emperor’s unraveling after the death of his beloved sister, Drusilla. It explores his descent into absurdist, tyrannical chaos. Caligula grapples with the meaninglessness of life after his sister’s death, a classic Camus examination of absurdism. This loss is the catalyst for his reign of terror. Chasing extreme logical regularity, Caligula uses his absolute power through cruelty, manipulation, and violence in pursuit of his own mental freedom. Though largely remembered for his novels, Camus’ plays are enthralling, provocative, and a stimulating read by all accounts.
The Plague
The Plague depicts the fictional French Algerian city of Oran’s quarantine following the devastating outbreak of the bubonic plague. Exploring themes of human suffering, social responsibility, and resilience in a cruel and indifferent world, Camus’ 1947 novel chronicles the residents of Oran’s response to the epidemic with a special focus on Bernard Rioux, a doctor, who mobilizes the society and leads the charge in combating the fallout. An enlightening read at any time, but one that holds profound relevance to a post-COVID-19, modern society.
The Rebel
As necessary today as it was then, Camus’ 1953 essay The Rebel examines rebellion as a positive, ethical response to injustice. Camus posits rebellion as distinct from destructive revolution, which often becomes violent and oppressive, and critiques totalitarianism, communism, and all extremist ideologies that wager personal and societal freedom for a so-called promised future. Progress, Camus argues, will be found in controlled revolts that foster and affirm solidarity and dignity to all people by focusing on present issues, rather than abstract ideals.
The Fall
A novel presented as a dramatic monologue, The Fall is narrated by Jean Baptiste Clamence, an ex-lawyer who moves to Amsterdam after a woman’s suicide leaves him conscience-stricken. The woman’s literal fall brings on Jean’s mental fall from grace and moral clarity. Confessing his philosophical faults to a stranger at the bar, Jean’s self-analysis is a poignant exploration of the human condition. Camus’ 1956 novel, precursing his Nobel Prize win in 1957, is one of his most highly regarded contributions to literature and absurdism.
A Happy Death
Eleven years after Camus’ death, his novel A Happy Death was released. A Happy Death tells the tale of Patrice Mersault, a young Algerian clerk who murders a man to acquire wealth. He uses this money to live an authentic life away from the rigors of social rules, live peacefully in Algiers, and die free of anger or regret. The focal point of the story, and Meursault’s life, is to define and achieve a “happy death”: freedom from societal pressures, financial stability, and living out his true desires. Considered the foundation for his most famous novel, The Stranger, A Happy Death is a fascinating and twisted glimpse into Camus’ mind.
The First Man
Published posthumously in 1994 by Camus’ daughter, Catherine Camus, The First Man is a semi-autobiographical novel delving into the life of Jacques Comnery. Jacques’ many trials and tribulations are documented: his poverty in Algeria, the death of his father in his youth, and his difficult but beautiful relationship with his deaf-mute mother. Albert Camus died in a car accident on January 4, 1960, at only 46. The unfinished manuscript of The First Man he was working on at the time of his death was discovered in the mud of the accident site.
Albert Camus’ legacy lives on in his substantial and enthralling contribution to literature, his expansive philosophical explorations, and his commitment to the study and analysis of absurdism. One of the youngest recipients of the Nobel Prize for Literature in history, Camus is a rare writer. One who not only shows you the world but delves you into it with crystal-clear clarity and jarring candidness.
Follow up this classic author’s catalogue with Bookstr’s list of ten iconic pieces of literature throughout time here.
For more recommendations from the team, check out our Bookstr Team Recommendations bookshelf on Bookshop.
