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- Herausgeber: 50Minutes.com
- Kategorie: Sachliteratur, Reportagen, Biografien
- Serie: Art & Literature
- Sprache: Englisch
Keen to learn but short on time? Find out everything you need to know about the life and work of Albert Camus in just 50 minutes with this straightforward and engaging guide!
Albert Camus is one of the most celebrated and influential writers of the 20th century. From humble beginnings in Algeria under French rule, he garnered international recognition for his novels, short stories, plays and essays, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1957. Camus was also a profoundly politically engaged writer: he took part in the French Resistance during the Second World War, denounced totalitarianism and injustice in all its forms, and campaigned in favour of the abolition of the death penalty. His writing grapples with universal philosophical themes such as the ultimate meaninglessness of life, and as such still resonates with many people today.
In this book, you will learn about:
• Camus’s childhood and the historical context in which his books were written
• The main themes and ideas explored in Camus’s work, including the Absurd and the necessity of rebellion
• Camus’s influence on later writers and thinkers, both in France and abroad
ABOUT 50MINUTES.COM | Art & Literature
The Art & Literature series from the 50Minutes collection aims to introduce readers to the figures and movements that have shaped our culture over the centuries. Our guides are written by experts in their field and each feature a full biography, an introduction to the relevant social, political and historical context, and a thorough discussion and analysis of the key works of each artist, writer or movement, making them the ideal starting point for busy readers looking for a quick way to broaden their cultural horizons.
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Seitenzahl: 31
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2017
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Albert Camus
Born: 7 November 1913 in Mondovi (now Dréan), Algeria.Died: 4 January 1960 in Villeblevin, France.Context: war was a constant backdrop to Camus’s life: he was born shortly before the outbreak of the First World War, experienced his first literary success during the Second World War (1939-1945), and witnessed the Algerian War, in which his native country fought for its independence from France, during the last years of his life. His writing has been linked to the existentialist movement and to the philosophical school of the Absurd.Notable works:The Myth of Sisyphus (1942), philosophical essayThe Stranger (1942), novelCaligula (1945), playThe Plague (1947), novelThe Just Assassins (1949), playThe Fall (1956), novelAlbert Camus is one of the most important French writers of the 20th century, and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1957. He wrote essays, novels, short stories and plays in which he developed his famous philosophy of the Absurd, and was also a journalist, philosopher and theatre director.
Nothing about Camus’s background seemed to herald the brilliant intellectual career ahead of him: he was born into a poor working-class family in French Algeria, his mother was illiterate and his father died when he was one year old. However, thanks to teachers who spotted his exceptional talent for literature, he was able to enter higher education and start writing. His first works, Betwixt and Between and Nuptials, were published in 1937 and 1938 respectively, but he only rose to fame and obtained widespread critical recognition with the appearance of The Plague in 1947.
Camus was initially associated with the existentialist movement, led by Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980), but broke with the writers who belonged to this group due to his criticism of the totalitarian regime in the USSR. He took a stance on the major social and political struggles of his time: he wrote for the newspapers produced by the French Resistance during the Second World War, denounced Francoism and Stalinism, opposed Algerian independence, spoke out against the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, and campaigned for the abolition of the death penalty. However, his fight against injustice in all its forms was tragically cut short in 1960, when he was killed in a car accident at the age of just 46.
Context
A century marked by war
From the Belle Époque to the Great War
The early 20th century was a time of peace and prosperity in Europe. It was the end of the Belle Époque, a period marked by advances in every field: scientific and technological discoveries, economic growth and social progress. However, a latent threat loomed over the continent and rivalries began to emerge. Not all countries had reaped the same benefits from colonialism, which led to tensions and jealousy, and contributed to heightened nationalist sentiment. Europe had become a powder keg, and the tiniest spark was all that was needed to ignite it.
On 28 June 1914, Franz Ferdinand (1863-1914), the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, was assassinated in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, by a young Serb nationalist. Austria-Hungary then declared war on Serbia, and the major European powers soon split into two camps, with the German Empire and the Austro-Hungarian Empire on one side, and France, Britain and Russia on the other. This marked the beginning of the First World War, also known as the Great War, which lasted for four years and had far-reaching consequences around the world.
