The Algerian Destiny of Albert Camus 1940-1962 (1940 - 1962)

This monograph (translated from French) is the first attempt to reconcile Camus’s deep-seated identity as an Algerian and his ideas of a multiconfessional, multicultural, non-colonial Algeria. The authors discuss the identity of Camus, his philosophy and politics, including his sexual politics, in light of a southern Mediterranean cultural nexus that stamped Camus as an Algerian rather than French (pied-noir). Camus’s cosmopolitan and radical Algiers of the 30’s is described vibrantly reflecting his extraordinary understanding of the people and landscape that evolved from his journalism. The authors also explore Camus's journalism, classic theory and dramatic works to develop a theory of this Nobel laureate’s identity and cultural relationship to Algeria. Camus’s death coincided with the bitter end of Algerie Francais and the inability of Camus himself to convince his French-Algerian compatriots that their future remained in Algeria but an Algeria far from the Arab Socialist and Islamic nationalist country that emerged from the War of Independence and continues to be wracked by war and disorder. This work was originally entitled in French CAMUS ET LE DESTIN ALGERIEN (2005), and will be published for French readers in the near future.