Acts rather feebly in conterpoint to "L'envers et l'endroit"

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	• Exile and the Kingdom (Vintage V-281) Albert Camus Vintage Books, 1965 - 213 pages average customer review:based on 16 reviews
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highly recommended

Acts rather feebly in conterpoint to "L'envers et l'endroit"

The short stories of "Exile and the Kingdom" remain, in my humble opinion (and of course in the opinion of Camus scholars, viz. Champigny, Fitch and C.C. O'Brien) stylistically-varied writing exercises more so than a response to "L'envers et l'endroit" ("The wright side and the wrong side", written in the same format 20 years earlier). As the title indicates, and as "Jonas", one the stories so blatanly (if not too dogmatically) alludes to, the metatheme is that of solitude v. solidarity (it sounds better in French due to rhyming...). Let me elucidate: in the context of the Algerian War - and certainly Camus' quandary during the latter - the perennial "no man's land" stance of an isolated, disliked-by-Sartre, disliked-by-the-pieds-noirs, writer makes for the premises of "Jonas" or "La femme adultère" ('the adulteress wife'). What intrigued me was how Camus reversed the cultural notions of "exile" and "kingdom" in making of the latter one of 'here and now', amongst men and without G-d, as opposed to an other-worldy 'kingdom' which Camus sees above all as some sort of solitude - a man praying alone, naked in front of the universe - (think of the jesuit-fetichist in the second text). The biblical allusions are also of course blatant: Simon (last story) makes the entire text too easily a roman-à-clef type of read; the fetichist-priest quotes Jesus, etc. Furthermore, characterization is almost nill (for those of you familiar with Clamence in "the Fall" or Meursault in "The Stranger", this work is entirely different - except maybe for the incredible second short story)in the sense that the individual stories, one senses, are more of "varied writing exercises." I love Camus, and certainly do not intend to disparage him any longer - for those of you who do expect a "Myth of Sisyphus" ideology to be hiding in each short story, this is not the case (nor should it be; it is not a "roman à thèse" where everything must be interpreted in light of the Absurd). Finally, "exile and the kingdom" remains, on a more positive note, an accessible introduction to one of the facets of Camus' thought for those who may not wish to indulge themselves in his war writings or 'The Myth of Sisyphus". Yet I must add that the stories do not function as a "résumé" of the author's thought, and rightly so. I do recommend a reading of the stories perhaps after an exploration of "The Fall" as they were all intended for publication with it. This is perhaps one of the most interesting factors in glancing at each story and figuring out why Camus chose such and such locations, mode of narration, style, format, and order. These stories are also, I might add, largely ignored by literary (Camus) critics and so ought to be read regardless... -Lisa

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A lesson

I believe that this book should be read along with the Fall, for as Camus intended, the two works lend insight into each other. I don't believe it's quite accurate to boil these stroies down into existential philosophy and social crticism. There is something to Camus' work which speaks to more hidden aspirations. This is an incredible collection of stories, who's diversity defies Hemingway. However, unlike the other reviews, I don't believe that the stories are about exile in such a simple way. Many of the charcters seem to be liberated at the end of their stories...or, imprisoned. Either way, the exile involved here, I think, may have more to do with the kingdom of God. Take that as you will. This is a strong piece of literature.

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A really good book with a repetitive message

After you've read one, the point behind all the other stories in this book are the same. In each story the main charater must choose between living a ho-hum life or taking a chance and heading twards there own personal kindom. Unfortunatly in finding there kindom they are exiled in one form or another.

With so many stories leading to the same conclusion, the point of the book is embeded into your head. They were all well written and I enjoyed the whole book, though I must admit I understood some better than others

Camus Finest Literary Achievement

A riveting and utterly haunting book, this anthology of Camus's short stories is not only my favorite of all his works, but it is one of the best books I have ever read.

The underlying theme in each of his stories is exile, whether it be spiritual, physical, or mental. From the tale of the school teacher put in care of an Arab prisoner to the missionary who finds himself worshipping a cruel graven image, each tale pits man in a pivotal moment in time which defines his future. This is at the very heart of existentialism, a predominant literary vehicle of contemporary authors.

The tales are simple in style, yet vividly written and rich in detail. You'll find youself shocked by the tragic irony in each of the characters, and haunted by the stories for years to come.

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Apparently pointless

Camus' existentialism is expressed in very similar ways among the different short stories. However if you are not really feeling existentialist then you may, like myself, be disappointed because these stories do not have any plot line.

reviews: 1, 2, page 3, 4

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