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Albert Camus. The stranger. Cat Ninh Modern Novel. Camus’ Biography: early life. Born November 7, 1913 -Mondovi in Algiers Father -killed in 1914 during WWI Mother - deaf and poor Deprived childhood at home
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Albert Camus The stranger Cat Ninh Modern Novel
Camus’ Biography: early life • Born November 7, 1913 -Mondovi in Algiers • Father -killed in 1914 during WWI • Mother - deaf and poor • Deprived childhood at home • Kept himself busy at school with sports, studying, and getting a part time job • Studied philosophy at the University of Algiers • Contracted TB in 1930
1930-1936: Young adulthood • 1934 - joined and then left the Communist party • Camus had to stop his studies because of financial issues • Jobs as a police clerk, a salesman, tutor, and a meteorologist • 1934-1936 - Married and divorced Simone Hié, the daughter of a wealthy opthalmologist • 1935 - he founded the Workers’ Theater • 1936 - he finally completed his degree, graduating from the University of Algiers
Early Literary Career • Wrote book reviews and essays for periodicals • His first book was a collection of essays • Topic: man’s isolation in the world and the absurdity of death • Journalist for the Paris-Soir • WW2 cut his career short • returned to live in North Africa, remarried, and worked as a teacher • 1942 -published The Stranger, his first novel • In the same year, he also published "The Myth of Sisyphus” • Returned to France and edited a newspaper called Combat. • Wrote for the Alger-Republicain; vs. the government • Troubles finding jobs in Algier, left to Paris in 1940
Other Works • 1944- 1945: Plays -Le Malentendu (The Misunderstood) and Caligula • 1947:The Plague • 1951: The Rebel - collection of essays • 1956:The Fall • 1957:The Exile and the Kingdom – collection of short stories
End of his life • 1957: Nobel Prize for Literature • January 4, 1960: died in a random car accident • Absurd: he originally planned to go on a train with his wife and kids, not drive with his publisher
published in 1942 • Viewed life as mostly meaningless, dull, indifferent • WWI made many European writers question the meaning of life • He did not believe in God or an afterlife • Philosophy of absurdity and existentialism • Character formation of Meursalt is based on these ideas