Read: December 2007
Jean-Baptiste Clamence spends his days in an Amsterdam bar dispensing existential advice to anyone who will listen. Over several nights he tells his story to a chance acquaintance, pouring forth a tale of huge success and a catastrophic, self imposed fall from grace.
In Camus’ way, the story is dense and complex, full of obscure references and philosophical concepts. Addressing the reader as his chance acquaintance, Jean-Baptiste regales us with his views on the universal human condition, the inherent hypocrisies and hollowness of his success and the forbidden knowledge which, once glimpsed, transformed his life forever.
Though never the easiest of writers, Camus is intelligent and what he says matters. If you like your fiction laced with a huge dollop of philosophy then this is the book for you.
5 out of 10
No comments:
Post a Comment