Looking for The Stranger – Albert Camus and the Life of a Literary Classic Paperback – Import, 23 March 2018

Insights into Camus’ Stranger. An English professor investigates the background and history of Camus’ The Stranger - which won the Nobel prize and was often used as an example of exploring existentialist philosophy - although Camus denied that. It follows Camus throughout his life until his death and examines his struggles with writing the Stranger - as well as his indebtedness to other writers. I certainly ended with a deeper appreciation of the book.I just recently read the book and as a 78 year old retired surgeon perhaps have a different perspective on the concept of life as ‘absurd.’ I saw too many people undergo potentially life threatening procedures and struggle to stay alive and recover to be able to identify with the idea of life as ‘absurd’ and that suicide is a legitimate choice. Nonetheless I find the book and its examination fascinating.

Interessante de ler sobre a vida difícil de Albert Camus, sobre como o romance foi construído e sobre as dificuldades de publicar durante a segunda guerra mundial.

This biography of Camus's masterpiece, The Stranger, provides fascinating insight into the constellation of political, personal, and everyday factors that combined to produce the book and see it through publication during the Second World War. Kaplan succeeds in finding "the stranger", which is a discovery towards the very end of the book that will quell the curiousity of many readers. I also appreciate her readings of the multitude of artistic homages to The Stranger, particularly her contention that The Cure's 1984 song "Killing an Arab" is one of the best encapsulations of this sublime, absurd, and thoroughly modern tale.

If you are familiar with Camus, you will probably like this slightly different take.

The biography of a book, well researched, straightforwardly written; the dependable cliff-hangers irritated a little, as though they were necessary. Quand même, of great interest to anyone interested in the book, its author, or the history of ideas.