The Fall
Albert Camus
GoodBook Classics
Ebook
69
Pages
About this ebook
First published in 1956, it is his last complete work of fiction. Set in Amsterdam, The Fall consists of a series of dramatic monologues by the self-proclaimed “judge-penitent”, Jean-Baptiste Clamence, as he reflects upon his life to a stranger. In what amounts to a confession, Clamence tells of his success as a wealthy Parisian defense lawyer who was highly respected by his colleagues; his crisis, and his ultimate “fall” from grace, was meant to invoke, in secular terms, The Fall of Man in the Garden of Eden.
Quotes from the book:
“You know what charm is: a way of getting the answer yes without having asked any clear question.”
“People hasten to judge in order not to be judged themselves.”
“Empires and churches are born under the sun of death.”
Readers' reviews:
“If you have never read Camus you are mostly surely missing something special. Absurdity explained with absolute clairvoyance. He is a very special writer, the rare combination of great thinker who knew to write.” (Abhilash, goodreads.com)
“This is my favorite of the Camus I have read. The style is one of the most interesting I have ever come across. It is written in a strange monologue. You follow the lead character through his entire life leading to that point as the lead explains it to some guy he met in the pub.” (Owen, goodreads.com)
“Yet another Camus novel that has astounded me, aptly putting forth questions piercing the human condition. Really enjoyed this.” (Peter Clarke, goodreads.com)
Quotes from the book:
“You know what charm is: a way of getting the answer yes without having asked any clear question.”
“People hasten to judge in order not to be judged themselves.”
“Empires and churches are born under the sun of death.”
Readers' reviews:
“If you have never read Camus you are mostly surely missing something special. Absurdity explained with absolute clairvoyance. He is a very special writer, the rare combination of great thinker who knew to write.” (Abhilash, goodreads.com)
“This is my favorite of the Camus I have read. The style is one of the most interesting I have ever come across. It is written in a strange monologue. You follow the lead character through his entire life leading to that point as the lead explains it to some guy he met in the pub.” (Owen, goodreads.com)
“Yet another Camus novel that has astounded me, aptly putting forth questions piercing the human condition. Really enjoyed this.” (Peter Clarke, goodreads.com)
About the author
Albert Camus was born in 1913 and was a chief literary figure in non-metropolitan French Literature. In addition, he was also a journalist and regarded as a keen philosopher of the 20th century. His origins lied in Algeria, and there are major influences in his thoughts and work from there.
He was born to semi-proletarian parents, who were attached to circles with strong revolutionary tendencies and also had a profound interest in philosophy. Camus came to France when he was 25 years old. Albert Camus always had strong political tendencies; the man in him and those times met, which led to his involvement in the resistance movement. After the liberation period was over, he became a columnist with the newspaper, Combat. However, most of his journalistic activities and propaganda were merely responses to the incessant demands of the time.
During the year of 1947, Camus gave up working as a political journalist and apart from writing literary fiction and essays, was also extremely pro-active in the theatre as producer and playwright. He adapted several plays by Calderon, Dino Buzzati, Lope de Vega, and Faulkner’s Requiem for a Nun. His genuine love for theater can be attributed to his membership in L’Equipe, an Algerian theatre group whose “collective creation” Révolte dans les Asturies was debarred for political reasons.
In the years 1934-1936, he was married to Simone Hie, who was the daughter of a rich ophthalmologist. Camus’s entry in the Communist Part in 1934 was mostly due to the increase in fascism in Europe, as he was entrusted with the responsibility of doing propaganda work among the Muslims. However, his association with the Communist party could not be sustained, and by 1935 he felt a sense of disillusionment. Therefore, he invested all his creative energies into the theatre group, Theatre du Travail, where he simultaneously worked as an actor, director, and playwright. Consequently, he also formed a philosophy of moralism that further led to his bizarre ideas. He posited that this state can only exist if God is absent.
After some time, Camus left Algiers to travel Central Europe. Long-standing problems with Simone, due to her intense drug addiction, led to the break-up of their marriage. However, despite problems, he still managed to produce his own play that year – The Revolt in Austria. In 1937, Albert also managed to complete his book – A Happy Death, although it wasn’t published during the time he was alive.
On the 4th of January 1960, Camus was killed in a car accident at Villeblevin. A Happy Death and The First Man were published decades later. The unexpected death marked the loss of one of the greatest existentialist philosophers.
(famousauthors.org)
He was born to semi-proletarian parents, who were attached to circles with strong revolutionary tendencies and also had a profound interest in philosophy. Camus came to France when he was 25 years old. Albert Camus always had strong political tendencies; the man in him and those times met, which led to his involvement in the resistance movement. After the liberation period was over, he became a columnist with the newspaper, Combat. However, most of his journalistic activities and propaganda were merely responses to the incessant demands of the time.
During the year of 1947, Camus gave up working as a political journalist and apart from writing literary fiction and essays, was also extremely pro-active in the theatre as producer and playwright. He adapted several plays by Calderon, Dino Buzzati, Lope de Vega, and Faulkner’s Requiem for a Nun. His genuine love for theater can be attributed to his membership in L’Equipe, an Algerian theatre group whose “collective creation” Révolte dans les Asturies was debarred for political reasons.
In the years 1934-1936, he was married to Simone Hie, who was the daughter of a rich ophthalmologist. Camus’s entry in the Communist Part in 1934 was mostly due to the increase in fascism in Europe, as he was entrusted with the responsibility of doing propaganda work among the Muslims. However, his association with the Communist party could not be sustained, and by 1935 he felt a sense of disillusionment. Therefore, he invested all his creative energies into the theatre group, Theatre du Travail, where he simultaneously worked as an actor, director, and playwright. Consequently, he also formed a philosophy of moralism that further led to his bizarre ideas. He posited that this state can only exist if God is absent.
After some time, Camus left Algiers to travel Central Europe. Long-standing problems with Simone, due to her intense drug addiction, led to the break-up of their marriage. However, despite problems, he still managed to produce his own play that year – The Revolt in Austria. In 1937, Albert also managed to complete his book – A Happy Death, although it wasn’t published during the time he was alive.
On the 4th of January 1960, Camus was killed in a car accident at Villeblevin. A Happy Death and The First Man were published decades later. The unexpected death marked the loss of one of the greatest existentialist philosophers.
(famousauthors.org)
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