Camus: Portrait of a Moralist (review)

In six short chapters, this study retraces the life and career of Albert Camus while elucidating the tumultuous period in which he lived. It features several original readings of major literary and philosophical texts, an incisive analysis of the Camus-Sartre controversy, and a thoughtful re-examination of Camus’s role in the Algerian conflict. It also provides a relevant and respectful look into Camus’s personal life. We see Camus as he experiences almost everything from abandonment, poverty, and writer’s block to love, friendship, and stardom. Bronner’s overall tone is one of measured admiration. He lauds Camus for his honesty, talent, and tolerance, but still takes him to task for his logical inconsistencies and poor political judgment. In doing so, Bronner portrays Camus with depth, subtlety, and, above all, balance.