The Best Books by Albert Camus - Five Books Expert Recommendations

Albert Camus Reading List – The Best 5 Books to Read | Philosophy Break

📚 3 best books by Albert Camus › August 2023

The Best Books By Albert Camus You Should Read | Culture Trip

9 of Albert Camus’ Best Stories, Books, and Essays Ranked

In a large city situated in Algeria, a sudden rat infestation causes alarm amongst the residents. This seemingly minor nuisance soon turns deadly when individuals begin falling ill with an unfamiliar fever. M. Michel, a building concierge working alongside Dr. Rieux, becomes one of the first victims. When multiple similar cases surface, Dr. Rieux's colleague, Castel, deduces that they are dealing with the bubonic plague. Despite their insistence, the authorities remain indifferent until the situation becomes undeniably critical. Only then do they implement stringent sanitation procedures and quarantine the city.

The enforced confinement evokes a profound sense of longing in the citizens, leading them to dwell on personal grievances. Father Paneloux, a religious figure, proclaims the situation a divine punishment for the city's sins. Raymond Rambert, desperate to reunite with his wife in Paris, plans an illegal escape with the assistance of Cottard's criminal network. However, he chooses to stay and contribute to the fight against the plague after learning of Dr. Rieux's similar circumstances. Cottard, a criminal himself, exploits the situation, accumulating wealth through smuggling.

As the quarantine extends over several months, citizens gradually shift their focus from personal suffering to collective responsibility. They join the fight against the plague, recognizing it as a shared calamity. When M. Othon's son dies a painful death from the plague, Father Paneloux revises his earlier sermon, stating that the death of innocents forces a choice between complete faith or utter disbelief in God. Later, when he himself falls ill, he refuses medical help, entrusting his fate to divine Providence. His death, however, does not match the symptoms of the plague, leaving his case ambiguous. The epidemic eventually subsides, leaving the city in a state of recovery. The citizens return to their routines, but Dr. Rieux remains vigilant, aware that the bacillus microbe can reactivate after lying dormant for years.

The Plague

La Peste

The Fall

La Caída

The story revolves around a young resident of Algiers, who embarks on a journey to Marengo following the news of his mother's passing. He converses with the director of the elderly home where his mother had been residing, only to discover her body already confined to the coffin. He spends the night beside her, joined by a chatty custodian who proves to be a bit of a nuisance. The following day, a funeral procession ensues, during which an elderly man named Thomas Perez, who had grown fond of his mother, faints from the heat. Upon his return to Algiers that night, the protagonist heads to the beach to swim, where he crosses paths with his old colleague, Marie Cardona. They subsequently decide to watch a comedy film and spend the night together. 

On the following workweek, he crosses paths with Salamano, an elderly man with a sickly dog who resides in the same building, and his neighbor Raymond Sintes, who is believed to be involved in illicit activities. Raymond invites him over for dinner and shares his intention of taking revenge on his unfaithful mistress, asking for the protagonist's help in writing a letter to trick her. Later, Marie visits and questions the protagonist about his feelings towards her, which she was met with indifference. In the midst of their conversation, they hear a commotion from Raymond's apartment, who had been confronted by the police due to his violent actions towards his mistress. The protagonist agrees to testify for Raymond's defense. 

The subsequent events see the protagonist embroiled in a murder case after he shoots his neighbor's girlfriend's brother without any clear reason. This lands him in jail, where his lawyer is taken aback by his evident lack of regret for his actions and his apparent apathy towards his mother's death. Over time, the protagonist adapts to his life in prison, managing to keep his mind occupied and sleeping most of the day. His trial unfolds in a courtroom filled with spectators and press members, who focus less on the murder and more on his character and his reaction to his mother's death. The protagonist is ultimately convicted and sentenced to death. As he awaits his execution, he struggles to come to terms with his fate. Despite a visit from a chaplain who urges him to turn to God, the protagonist vehemently rejects the notion and embraces the idea of life being void of any greater meaning. This acceptance brings him a sense of happiness.

The Stranger

El Extranjero

An Essay on Man in Revolt

Un Ensayo sobre el Hombre en Rebelión

The Rebel

El Rebelde

The crux of this narrative pertains to the notion of "the absurd", a profound contradiction between the universe's chaotic nature and our innate desire for coherence, order, and reason. In our quest for meaning, we are met with two alternatives: to either seek solace in a divine entity through faith or be consumed by the meaninglessness of existence. However, this narrative explores a third possibility: the acceptance and endurance of a world devoid of purpose or significance. It questions whether the absence of meaning in life automatically compels one towards self-destruction, and argues that if life truly had no worth, the only remaining paths would be religious faith or suicide.

This contradiction of the absurd is irresolvable, and any attempt at resolution is but a futile escape. Renowned scholars and philosophers like Kierkegaard, Chestov, Jaspers, and Husserl have grappled with this contradiction, yet they too seek respite from it. They perceive no cohesion or order in existence, hence seeking transcendence in this very chaos. In contrast, being one with the absurd requires constant confrontation of this underlying contradiction, allowing us to immerse in life more deeply rather than seeking an end to it. Embracing the absurd incorporates three tenets: revolt (refusing to accept any answer or resolution), freedom (absolute liberty of thought and action), and passion (an urge for vibrant and varied experiences).

The narrative further illustrates the concept of an absurd life through four archetypes: the seducer, who revels in the passions of the moment; the actor, who imbibes the passions of countless lives into their career; the rebel, whose energies are consumed by political battles; and the artist, who crafts entire worlds. Absurd art refrains from explaining experiences, choosing merely to depict them and offering a specific outlook on certain problems rather than generic themes. The narrative concludes with a depiction of Sisyphus, the absurd hero, doomed to endlessly push a boulder up a mountain only for it to roll back down. This eternal struggle is a metaphor for the human condition, suggesting that acceptance of this absurdity can indeed result in contentment. It ends with an examination of Franz Kafka's works, commending him for his masterful portrayal of the human condition's absurdity.

The Myth of Sisyphus

El Mito de Sísifo

5 Best Albert Camus Books of All Time

The Plague

The Fall

The Stranger

The Rebel

An Essay on Man in Revolt

The Myth of Sisyphus

Sources

What To Read Next

5 Best Albert Camus Books of All Time

The Plague

The Fall

The Stranger

The Rebel

An Essay on Man in Revolt

The Myth of Sisyphus

Sources

What To Read Next

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