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The Myth of Sisyphus & The Fall

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"The Myth of Sisyphus & The Fall" combines two timeless works by the acclaimed philosopher and writer Albert Camus. In "The Myth of Sisyphus," Camus delves into the philosophical concept of absurdity and the human struggle to find meaning in a world devoid of inherent purpose. Through the mythological figure of Sisyphus, condemned to repeat a futile task for eternity, Camus explores the existential questions of existence, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness. In "The Fall," Camus presents a thought-provoking novel centered around the character Jean-Baptiste Clamence, a former lawyer who reflects upon his own moral failings and the human capacity for self-deception. Through introspective monologues and sharp social critique, Camus delves into themes of guilt, responsibility, and the complexities of human nature. This compelling volume invites readers to contemplate the complexities of existence and the choices that shape our lives

212 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 30, 2023

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About the author

Albert Camus

1,077 books38.1k followers
Works, such as the novels The Stranger (1942) and The Plague (1947), of Algerian-born French writer and philosopher Albert Camus concern the absurdity of the human condition; he won the Nobel Prize of 1957 for literature.

Origin and his experiences of this representative of non-metropolitan literature in the 1930s dominated influences in his thought and work.

He also adapted plays of Pedro Calderón de la Barca, Lope de Vega, Dino Buzzati, and Requiem for a Nun of William Faulkner. One may trace his enjoyment of the theater back to his membership in l'Equipe, an Algerian group, whose "collective creation" Révolte dans les Asturies (1934) was banned for political reasons.

Of semi-proletarian parents, early attached to intellectual circles of strongly revolutionary tendencies, with a deep interest, he came at the age of 25 years in 1938; only chance prevented him from pursuing a university career in that field. The man and the times met: Camus joined the resistance movement during the occupation and after the liberation served as a columnist for the newspaper Combat.

The essay Le Mythe de Sisyphe (The Myth of Sisyphus), 1942, expounds notion of acceptance of the absurd of Camus with "the total absence of hope, which has nothing to do with despair, a continual refusal, which must not be confused with renouncement - and a conscious dissatisfaction."
Meursault, central character of L'Étranger (The Stranger), 1942, illustrates much of this essay: man as the nauseated victim of the absurd orthodoxy of habit, later - when the young killer faces execution - tempted by despair, hope, and salvation.

Besides his fiction and essays, Camus very actively produced plays in the theater (e.g., Caligula, 1944).

The time demanded his response, chiefly in his activities, but in 1947, Camus retired from political journalism.

Doctor Rieux of La Peste (The Plague), 1947, who tirelessly attends the plague-stricken citizens of Oran, enacts the revolt against a world of the absurd and of injustice, and confirms words: "We refuse to despair of mankind. Without having the unreasonable ambition to save men, we still want to serve them."

People also well know La Chute (The Fall), work of Camus in 1956.

Camus authored L'Exil et le royaume (Exile and the Kingdom) in 1957. His austere search for moral order found its aesthetic correlative in the classicism of his art. He styled of great purity, intense concentration, and rationality.

Camus died at the age of 46 years in a car accident near Sens in le Grand Fossard in the small town of Villeblevin.

Chinese 阿尔贝·加缪

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Profile Image for Steve Garriott.
Author 1 book15 followers
May 3, 2024
If you're interested in how the narcissist mind works, take some time to read Camus' novel. The book is basically a one-sided conversation between the main character and an unnamed, unheard companion over 5 (?) days around several locations in Amsterdam. Intriguing, front-row seat view on how the mental perspective plays out.
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