- Paperback: 192 pages
- Publisher: Vintage; PB edition (Jun 12 1973)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0394718658
- ISBN-13: 978-0394718651
- Product Dimensions: 18 x 10.4 x 1.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 227 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #726,727 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Product Description
In his first novel, A Happy Death, written when he was in his early twenties and retrieved from his private papers following his death in I960, Albert Camus laid the foundation for The Stranger, focusing in both works on an Algerian clerk who kills a man in cold blood. But he also revealed himself to an extent that he never would in his later fiction. For if A Happy Death is the study of a rule-bound being shattering the fetters of his existence, it is also a remarkably candid portrait of its author as a young man.
As the novel follows the protagonist, Patrice Mersault, to his victim's house -- and then, fleeing, in a journey that takes him through stages of exile, hedonism, privation, and death -it gives us a glimpse into the imagination of one of the great writers of the twentieth century. For here is the young Camus himself, in love with the sea and sun, enraptured by women yet disdainful of romantic love, and already formulating the philosophy of action and moral responsibility that would make him central to the thought of our time.
Translated from the French by Richard Howard --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
As the novel follows the protagonist, Patrice Mersault, to his victim's house -- and then, fleeing, in a journey that takes him through stages of exile, hedonism, privation, and death -it gives us a glimpse into the imagination of one of the great writers of the twentieth century. For here is the young Camus himself, in love with the sea and sun, enraptured by women yet disdainful of romantic love, and already formulating the philosophy of action and moral responsibility that would make him central to the thought of our time.
Translated from the French by Richard Howard --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Ingram
Written in his early twenties and retrieved from his private papers following his death in 1960, A HAPPY DEATH is a remarkably candid portrait of its author as a young man. As the novel follows the protagonist, Patrice, to his victim's house--and then, fleeing, in a journey that takes him through stages of exile, hedonism, privation, and death--it gives readers a glimpse into the imagination of one of the great writers of the 20th century.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extraordinary! It changed my life!!!!!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Happy Death (Paperback)
I am a sophmore in high school at the moment and I read this book when I was in eighth grade. At that time I was very depresed and unhappy. I don't mean I was on the verge of suicide but I was just very gloomy. Then my english teacher told us we had to read a novel of our choosing and keep a journal on it. For some reason I choose this book. I had only read one of Camus's short stories: THE GUEST and that did not prepare me for the beauty of A HAPPY DEATH. I had never read anything of such raw unmitigated emotion! Camus tossed feelings around like jugglers do balls! When I had finished I felt at peace with myself for the first time in a year and a half. I urge everyone to read this book. Granted, there are structural problems but who cares! All that is left to say is: Thank you Albert! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Camus In Metamorphosis,
By
This review is from: Happy Death (Paperback)
Camus' book "A Happy Death" was never published in his lifetime. Camus was very specific and deliberate as to when he would publish what. This novel, the first written by Camus, has been published after being reclaimed from his papers.The question that comes to mind then, is "Why did Camus never publish this work?" It seems that the book was a transitional writing for Camus. It allowed him to move forward from the life he had always thought about, to the life he believed he lived in, that being an "existential" existence. In reading the book, one finds that Mersault, the protagonist, seems to have too many moments of happiness as compared to other protagonists in Camus' other publications. This in fact, is probably an autobiographical reflection of Camus' early life, and the book, a work to allow him to metamorphosize, transform his vision into what came next, "The Stranger." The beauty of the novel is recognizing this transition and then, with such recognition, comes the ability to apply those thought patterns and feelings to Camus' later works, seeing how he transformed from a "regular" human being, to an "existentialist" one who has the feeling of being unique, and apart from others and the world around him. The book gives valuable insight into Camus' mental process as he moves from where he was, to where he will go. For Camus readers, the book is truly a MUST. And for anyone with an interest in the "Existential" genre, it is truly an enlightening piece of literature.
3.0 out of 5 stars
You've Got to be Into This Kind of Reading,
By
This review is from: Happy Death (Paperback)
I agree with another reviewer in that one has got to be prepared for Camus. I have only read The Stranger and The Plague in addition to this one, but found A Happy Death much better than The Plague. Also note that A Happy Death was not published by Camus during his lifetime and likely not intended to be, since much of A Happy Death is taken and used in The Stranger. For fans existentialism (which I am one) this book is a pretty fun and easy read, due to its very short length. I recommended it to a cousin I was vacationing with who had almost no philosophical background, and he read it in one day and enjoyed it well enough. But again, as I have written in my review of The Plague, one cannot help but wonder what gets lost in each translation. Giving the benefit of the doubt to Camus, this translator (Richard Howard) appears to have a better grip on the English side of the ball than does the translator of The Plague (Stuart Gilbert). Since this is (unofficially) Camus' first work, A Happy Death is a logical place to start, although note another reviewer's remarks that The Stranger and The Fall are both more enjoyable (but not The Plague according to me). A first-timer to Camus may be better served by trying The Stranger first - I'm positive Camus would prefer that starting point as well.
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