Be Specific About Books Toward A Happy Death
| Original Title: | La mort heureuse |
| ISBN: | 0141186585 (ISBN13: 9780141186580) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Characters: | Patrice Mersault, Roland Zagreus |
| Literary Awards: | National Book Award Finalist for Translation (1973) |
Albert Camus
Paperback | Pages: 144 pages Rating: 3.82 | 10305 Users | 633 Reviews
Describe Out Of Books A Happy Death
| Title | : | A Happy Death |
| Author | : | Albert Camus |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | First Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 144 pages |
| Published | : | February 28th 2002 by Penguin Classics (first published 1971) |
| Categories | : | Fiction. Philosophy. Classics. Cultural. France. Literature |
Explanation To Books A Happy Death
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'.Rating Out Of Books A Happy Death
Ratings: 3.82 From 10305 Users | 633 ReviewsWrite-Up Out Of Books A Happy Death
"A Happy Death" is an important aid to cataloguing the mindset of Camus as a developing artist. The style is very good, particularly the imagery. That being said, there is probably a reason that Camus did not publish this book himself. The first division of the book--"Natural Death"--is fairly good, and has good plot direction. The second section, "Conscious Death," gets very annoying very fast. By the end of the first chapter in that section, I hated Patrice Mersault, the protagonist. By theOkay. Weird book. I should have expected something a bit on the existential side when I picked up a Camus work. And as usual, despite its odd factor, I really enjoyed it. It is a little bit of a tough read so descriptive in nature that its kind of like reading very poetic poetry. (redundant, I know). And similar to other Camus books Ive read, it took till the last third of the novel for me to grow to appreciate and love the main character. Im not exactly sure why Camus didnt care for this
Even though this is the first known book written by Camus, it was published posthumously, only ten years after the author's death. And I have a clue why.
Camus takes us through the maze of self discovery...showing us that what we seek and what we find are often two very different outcomes. Read this before you read The Stranger...it will help "flesh out" the book for you.
Paradoxical title along with my own questions regarding happiness prompted me to read this novel.The first half of the book is about an ordinary, poor clerk, who lives unconsciously indulging in a lonely, survival prone living. The major twist happens when he kills a rich handicapped man called Zagreb. Zagreb suggests to him that in order to be happy he needs to have money. Money is a way to have more time to develop 'well to happiness' in himself.After the murder, he goes to different cities.
Until now he had lived. Now he could talk of his life. Of that great ravaging energy which had borne him on, of that fugitive and generating poetry of life, nothing was left now but the transparent truth which is the opposite of poetry. Of all the men he had carried inside himself, as every man does at the beginning of this life, of all those various rootless, mingling beings, he had created his life with consciousness, with courage. That was his whole happiness in living and dying.
this is the Richard Howard translation, hardcover. I rescued it from a dumpster last summer. There is a napkin inside between pages 114 & 115 with scribbling most likely intended for a journal. There is no name. It's dated 7/20/72. Here is what it says:May not go to California afterall,going due N.E. through New Englandas planned and still on schedule.Drifted through winchester tosee Emily, and did, from adistance in a bar.May be back in 2 wk. buthard to say. like to get to Mexico in Dec.Saw
No comments
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.