Algerian Chronicles

Arthur Goldhammer,
Albert Camus,
Alice Kaplan

Save:

Find on Amazon

colonialism

algerian independence struggles

socio political landscape of algeria

famine in kabylia

historical documentation

political analysis of algeria

journalistic writing style

concise and direct sentences

impactful observations

measured and contemplative pacing

non traditional narrative structure

tensions between colonizer and colonized

french settler community

tumultuous colonial period

'Algerian Chronicles' by Arthur Goldhammer, Albert Camus, and Alice Kaplan is a collection of journalistic writings by Albert Camus about Algeria, written between 1939 and 1958. Camus, part of the French settler community in Algeria, provided factual accounts of the hardships faced by the Algerian people and commented on the heartbreaking situation in his homeland. He wrote with a humane middle way, hoping for a country that could be both French and Berber and Arab, but found himself continuously thwarted by historical events. covers a range of topics from the famine in the Kabylia region to the Algerian crisis and offers insights into the complexities of colonialism and independence struggles.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is marked by concise, direct sentences that convey clarity and impactful observations, reminiscent of journalistic writing.

Plot/Storyline:

The story unfolds through a collection of essays detailing the socio-political landscape of Algeria, highlighting its struggles during the colonial era and the push for independence.

Setting:

The setting is Algeria during its tumultuous colonial period, primarily between 1939 and 1958, marked by social and political tension.

Pacing:

The pacing is measured and contemplative, with detailed reflections that do not adhere to a traditional narrative structure.

Notes:

Albert Camus was both French and Algerian, highlighting his complex identity as a member of the settler community in Algeria.

He passionately argued for Algeria to be integrated into France as a part of a federation rather than gaining independence or remaining a colony.

His writings reflected the struggles of both the Algerian population and the French settlers, emphasizing the poverty felt by all groups in Algeria.

In his collection 'Algerian Chronicles', Camus shared newspaper articles he wrote about the plight of the Algerians during the 1930s and 1940s.

The collection addresses the conflict between colonial interests and the growing Arab nationalist movement during the independence struggle.

Camus warned of the consequences of the Algeria conflict, predicting disaster long before the war started in earnest in the 1950s.

He maintained a belief in a middle ground between the opposing sides of the Algerian conflict, hoping for a peaceful coexistence.

Despite his pleas for moderation, Camus faced criticism from both French and Algerian sides for his views and approach.

His writing style in 'Algerian Chronicles' was described as clear and direct, contrasting with the obscurity of later postmodern thinkers.

Camus's work was often seen as an early critique of colonialism, though he was accused of lacking urgency about the independence movement.

He died in a car crash in 1960, in the midst of the Algerian War for independence, without seeing the conflict resolved.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for Algerian Chronicles include discussions of violence, torture, and the impact of war, particularly related to the Algerian struggle for independence.

From The Publisher:

More than fifty years after Algerian independence, Albert Camus' Algerian Chronicles appears here in English for the first time. Published in France in 1958, the same year the Algerian War brought about the collapse of the Fourth French Republic, it is one of Camus' most political works-an exploration of his commitments to Algeria. Dismissed or disdained at publication, today Algerian Chronicles, with its prescient analysis of the dead end of terrorism, enjoys a new life in Arthur Goldhammer's elegant translation.

"Believe me when I tell you that Algeria is where I hurt at this moment," Camus, who was the most visible symbol of France's troubled relationship with Algeria, writes, "as others feel pain in their lungs." Gathered here are Camus' strongest statements on Algeria from the 1930s through the 1950s, revised and supplemented by the author for publication in book form.

Reader Stats (2):

Want To Read (2)

What can you read after
Algerian Chronicles?

See the list (58 books)

About the Author:

Albert Camus (1913-1960), Algerian-French novelist, essayist, and playwright, won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957.

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.