Nick Pateras | The Fall
BOOK REVIEW
The Fall – Albert Camus
A profoundly disturbing confessional which serves as a searing study of modern amorality
The more I read of Camus, the more bedazzled I become at his wonderful ability to dig deep inside our inner selves and enlighten us with aphorisms that are strikingly true yet also so entrenched in our intrinsic behavior that we fail to recognize them. In The Fall, a once-successful Parisian lawyer tells of his dramatic metamorphosis from a free-spirited, high-flying, ostensibly benevolent Machiavellian to a downtrodden and morose character representing a cocktail of guilt and self-dissatisfaction.
"You know what charm is: a way of getting the answer yes without asking any clear question."
For a different execution, Camus never fails: not only is the entire story delivered in the form of a monologue but it also includes very little actual ‘occurrences’ in the traditional sense of a jam-packed plot. Instead, Camus has his character meander through his thoughts, reminiscing and drawing conclusions from lucid memories. I found this novel a stunning read and a perfect example of fine literature – not only was the story entertaining in itself, but it also elucidated some of the more complex elements of humanity’s nature.
-NP, May 2014