Description

In brand new translations by Ryan Bloom, four theatrical masterpieces from the Nobel Prize-winning author of The Outsider and The Plague are brought together for the first time in English, alongside deleted scenes and alternate lines of dialogue

Caligula/The Misunderstanding /State of Emergency/The Just

Although renowned for his novels, Albert Camus described the theatre as ‘one of the only places in the world I’m happy’, and staged the four plays gathered in this collection in Paris between 1944-49. Caligula, his first full-length dramatic work, portrays the monstrous emperor who destroys men, gods and ultimately himself. Here too are The Misunderstanding, a murderous tangle of longing; State of Emergency, where ‘The Plague’ appears as a central character; and The Just, which explores the limits of political conviction. This new translation brings together Camus’s final versions of the plays, along with deleted scenes and alternate lines of dialogue.

Albert Camus (1913–1960) was a French-Algerian philosopher, author, and existentialist thinker known for his exploration of the absurdity of human existence. His most famous works include the novel “The Stranger” and the essay “The Myth of Sisyphus.”

Camus’ philosophy centered around the idea of the absurd, the conflict between the human desire for meaning and the indifference of the universe. He argued that while life lacks inherent meaning or purpose, individuals must confront this absurdity with defiance and embrace the struggle for meaning and authenticity.

Rejecting nihilism, Camus advocated for the creation of personal meaning through the experience of life’s inherent absurdity. He emphasized the importance of living passionately and authentically, despite the inherent challenges and uncertainties of existence.

Camus was also deeply concerned with ethics and social justice, critiquing both the injustices of colonialism and the totalitarianism of his time. He famously declared that one must imagine Sisyphus happy, suggesting that despite life’s absurdity, finding purpose and contentment in the struggle itself can lead to a meaningful existence.

Camus’ writings continue to inspire readers around the world, challenging them to confront life’s absurdities with courage and integrity, and to find meaning in the midst of uncertainty.