Compare and Contrast

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“Aujourd’hui, maman est morte.”

The first sentence of Albert Camus’ novel “L’Étranger” (The Stranger) is one of the most famous openings in world literature. At barely more than 100 pages it’s often suggested that the book’s theme and outlook are examples of Camus’ philosophy, absurdism, coupled with existentialism, a description that Camus rejected. Writing in 1953 he said:

I summarized The Stranger a long time ago, with a remark I admit was highly paradoxical: “In our society any man who does not weep at his mother’s funeral runs the risk of being sentenced to death.” I only meant that the hero of my book is condemned because he does not play the game.

A critical point in the book is when a young Arab man is murdered. We are told nothing about him, not even his name, which meant we were intrigued when we discovered “The Meursault Investigation” by Kamel Daoud. Daoud is a French-Algerian author and journalist.

First published in Algeria in 2013 “The Meursault Investigation” was Daoud’s first novel. It has won the Prix Goncourt du Premier Roman (Goncourt Prize for a First Novel), as well as the prix François Mauriac and the Prix des cinq continents de la francophonie.

Beginning with the sentence, “Mama’s still alive today”, the book is a retelling of Albert Camus’ 1942 novel, but this time from the perspective of the brother of “the Arab” killed by Meursault. Seventy years after that event, Harun, who has lived since childhood in the shadow of his sibling’s memory, resolves to bring his brother out of obscurity by giving him a name – Musa – and a voice, and by describing the events that led to his senseless murder on a dazzling Algerian beach.

The book is considered a worthy complement to its great predecessor, and is not only a profound meditation on Arab identity and the disastrous effects of colonialism in Algeria, but also a stunning work of literature in its own right, told in a unique and affecting voice.

Scarcely any longer than Camus’ book, about 260 pages combined, we think considering the two together at our meeting on Tuesday November 15th will result in an interesting and stimulating evening’s discussion.

If you think this sounds interesting, please come along and join us at 7.30 pm in Harbury Village Library. If you want more information, please email us at bookgroup@harburyvillagelibrary.org.uk