Camus, Albert

Lyrical and Critical Essays

New York, NY, USA: Alfred A. Knopf, 1968. First U.S. Edition. “There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide. Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy. All the rest–whether or not the world has three dimensions, whether the mind has nine or twelve categories–comes afterwards.”--Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus, pg 3. Father of Absurdism, Existentialist, and one of the most profound thinkers of the 20th century, Albert Camus (1913–1960) was a French-Algerian author, playright, journalist, and philosopher. Known for titanic works like: The Stranger (1942); The Myth of Sisyphus (1942); The Plague (1947); and The Rebel (1951) just to name a few, Camus was beloved in his time for his groundbreaking Existentialist philosophy driven by the absurdity of existence–life, death, suicide, drinking coffee, living in a world deprived of any inherent meaning–Camus’ philosophy was as radical as it was provocative and profound. Able to slip between philosophical works, essays, novels, plays, and poetry Camus as a writer was incredibly versatile and proved virtuosic even. Offered today is the 1968, posthumous work, Lyrical and Critical Essays. Translating for the first time Camus’s earliest published writings, Lyrical and Critical Essays showcases the beautifully moving subjective essays of his Algerian youth, as well as his most important critical works. From the young Camus as he detailed his exploration of ideas about absurdity, embodiment, and death to his reviews of the first novels of the then young, nascent writer Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–1980), and his later works on writers that held special significance to him like Madame de Lafayette (1634–1693), Herman Melville (1819–1891), and William Faulkner (1897–1962). Suffused with equal parts erudition, and passion Lyrical and Critical Essays is not only an incredible work to understand the man Camus, but also is indispensable to any and all who study him. Hardcover in unclipped dust jacket. First American edition as stated at copyright page, presumed first printing though not explicated as such thereon. Book is in relativey-fine-to-very-fine condition with only the slightest wear to fine edges; dust jacket is in very-fine condition with minor wear to fine edges and very slight smudging, and browning to front and back covers. Very Fine / Very Fine. [Item #7151]

Price: $250.00