When I was trying to decide what I’d read for the #1956Club, I had “The Fall” by Albert Camus on the pile of books I owned, but I don’t think I really intended to pick it up. However, after powering through the wonderful Christie, I wanted a little space before embarking on the Ed McBain; and it struck me that the Camus is very slim so possibly wouldn’t take *too* long to read. Plus I could remember absolutely nothing about it from my first read, which was possibly in the 1990s! So needless to say, it came off the shelf! “The Fall” was Camus’ final completed novel (my edition is translated by Justin O’Brien) and should by length really be termed as a novella. However, for its length it’s a complex work throwing up any number of ideas, and although I read it quickly, the concepts it raised are lingering on…
I sometimes think of what future historians will say of us. A single sentence will suffice for modern man: he fornicated and read the papers.
Taking the form of a series of monologues, the book is narrated by a man who calls himself Jean-Baptiste Clamence. Formerly a high-profile Parisian lawyer, he now finds himself adrift in Amsterdam, a habituee of a bar called Mexico City and a self-titled “judge-advocate”. A chance encounter with another man in the bar leads to him embarking on his life story – and dark reading it can make. Clamence was a self-assured, successful man; regarding himself as above the rest of humanity, he prided himself on his charity, his achievements and most importantly, how he appeared to others. However, his seemingly impermeable exterior is pricked one day – he walks away from a dramatic event, and ever after appears to hear mocking laughter wherever he goes. His self-image is ruined, and his fall from grace is not far away…
Ah, this dear old planet! All is clear now. We know ourselves; we now know of what we are capable.
As I said above, this *is* quite a complex work, though I found it very readable. Clamence is not a pleasant narrator; his arrogance and hypocrisy are quite repellent, and yet Camus has written him so wonderfully that you can’t help but follow him as his life descends into debauchery and finally he retreats to the lowlands of Amsterdam. His character gradually reveals itself, and the clever narrative, with Clamence’s responses often intimating the unheard part of the conversation, leads to a brilliant ending with unexpected implications for his conversational companion.
So we are steaming along without any landmark; we can’t gauge our speed. We are making progress and yet nothing is changing. It’s not navigation but dreaming.
There are, of course, religious overtones to the story, with the life of Clamence perhaps representing a secular version of the Fall of Man. Certainly, his behaviour leads the reader to judge him; but then, maybe *we* are not in a position to judge either? The constant reiteration of height – Clamence preferring things like mountain peaks to the top decks of boats – supports this reading of the story. And of course Amsterdam is itself below sea level, constantly damp and foggy, so a deliberately symbolic choice of location.
I found nothing but superiorities in myself and this explained my goodwill and serenity. When I was concerned with others, it was out of pure condescension, in utter freedom, and all the credit went to me: my self-esteem would go up a degree.
“The Fall” really was a fascinating, if dark, read; Clamence is in the end a cold, detached character reminding me somewhat of Meursault from “The Outsider” (Camus does seem to excel at those, although the cast of “The Plague” are somewhat more human). His cynical attitude, however, often shows cracks and it’s obvious he’s haunted by a guilt he seems unable to acknowledge, a guilt caused by the results of his moral passivity and unwillingness (or inability) to act.
As I said, I hadn’t intended to read this for our club week, but I’m so glad I did. I’ve re-read both “The Outsider” and “The Plague” in recent years and been happy to rediscover what a wonderful writer Camus was. “The Fall” is perhaps a little neglected in comparison to those two works, but it really does warrant careful reading for its explorations of what it means to be human, how much we hate to be mocked or judged, and yet how much worse is the way in which we judge ourselves. A wonderful book and one of my highlights for 1956! 😀
madamebibilophile
Oct 08, 2020 @ 07:53:51
This does sound very bleak. Camus is such a powerful writer I’m not sure I could handle this right now, but I’ll bear it in mind for better times!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 08, 2020 @ 10:22:33
It *is* bleak, definitely, but quite fascinating. His writing is superb.
Lisa Hill
Oct 08, 2020 @ 07:54:13
This is the one I was going to read, until I read that it was the most complex and difficult of his novels…
So well done to you for tackling it!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 08, 2020 @ 10:22:06
It *is* complex, I think, because of the intensity. The narration comes entirely from Clamence and it can be quite claustrophobic following the path of his mind. But a remarkably good book!
Lisa Hill
Oct 08, 2020 @ 10:33:54
I will read it in due course… just not at the moment, some medication that I’ve just started is making me a bit dopey.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 08, 2020 @ 11:14:12
I think life is making me dopey right now, frankly, but I can understand that. Currently reading a BL Crime Classic and it’s soothing my frazzled brain wonderfully!
MarinaSofia
Oct 08, 2020 @ 08:40:49
So glad you decided to read this. Camus really is a wonderful writer. Very clear, unadorned language but such depth. Often imitated, never bettered.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 08, 2020 @ 10:21:12
Totally agree. What is ostensibly a fairly straightforward story explores some really big issues, and the way Camus’ builds up and gradually reveals his narrator’s character is quite brilliant!
A Life in Books
Oct 08, 2020 @ 08:49:28
I read Camus when I was a pretentious teenager but I’m sure I’d get a great deal more out of his work now, or at least I hope so.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 08, 2020 @ 10:20:25
Me too! Certainly my revisits to him have brought rewards!
JacquiWine
Oct 08, 2020 @ 09:24:57
I’m woefully underread when it comes to Camus, having only read The Outsider back in the mists of time. This does sound rather challenging – possibly too much for me at the current time. Nevertheless, but it’s interesting to read about it here as part of the literary landscape of 1956!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 08, 2020 @ 10:20:10
It’s not the lightest book I’ll cover this week, but it was really involving, so cleverly done and full of very post-War France concepts! I’m definitely glad I read it!
Julé Cunningham
Oct 08, 2020 @ 16:02:07
This is a Camus I haven’t read and you’ve caught my interest with the description of it being about the dislike of being judged and how we judge ourselves. I’m also imagining an update of the modern man quote: ‘he hates and can’t stop looking at the small electronic device in his hand.’
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 08, 2020 @ 16:17:34
It’s fascinating to read, and still very timely – particularly in this modern world where we worry so much about appearance!
whatmeread
Oct 08, 2020 @ 17:24:06
I disliked it so much that I didn’t get to the dramatic ending, even though I had read most of the book! Oh well.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 08, 2020 @ 20:32:20
Never mind! No point in forcing yourself through something you dislike!
whatmeread
Oct 08, 2020 @ 21:05:47
It took me a long time to decide that, but now I stop reading several books a year.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 09, 2020 @ 06:44:33
Yeah, as I get older I feel the same. Too many good books and not enough time for me to waste on something I’m not loving…
Tredynas Days
Oct 08, 2020 @ 17:32:57
I also must have read this in my pretentious youth, when existentialism was still cool, and it was good to read your account of it after all this time. Maybe French readers like Emma would be able to comment on the English version of the title; I wonder if ‘La chute’ has connotations that are lost in the word ‘fall’- which inevitably, as you say, brings to mind the Christian/biblical usage. Not as tricky, I suppose, as translating the stranger/outsider.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 08, 2020 @ 20:31:58
I find I still love Camus when I re-read him, so that’s a good sign! I think the analogy with the religious fall is deliberate, although Camus’s focus is going to be secular. But yes, most likely less problematic than what I call The Outsider!
1streading
Oct 08, 2020 @ 18:44:57
That’s the same edition I have so I suspect it’s about as long since I read it and, like you, can remember little. I now, of course, want to read it again!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 08, 2020 @ 20:30:12
LOL! No, I could recall almost nothing about it, so in many ways it was like reading it as new. Which was great!
heavenali
Oct 08, 2020 @ 19:02:26
Well done for tackling such a complex work for the 1956 club. Not sure I would enjoy the attitude of the narrator at the moment, though it is good to know it’s so readable.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 08, 2020 @ 20:29:41
He’s not a pleasant person, but it *is* fascinating reading about him – and a really intriguing book generally!
BookerTalk
Oct 09, 2020 @ 11:07:36
This was the book I was meant to be reading but when I started it one night, found I wasn’t in the mood for anything complex. I’ll get to it at some point since I’ve never read it. I can’t recall reading any Camus in fact since I was in school! So clearly he is long overdue
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 09, 2020 @ 11:08:44
I suspect it’s definitely a book you need to be in the right mood for, because although it’s slim it packs an intellectual punch. There’s a lot of chewy ideas in there I’m still digesting – excellent book and excellent author!
#1956Club – ready, set, go! – Stuck in a Book
Oct 09, 2020 @ 15:38:56
Liz Dexter
Oct 09, 2020 @ 18:44:08
This sounds quite Iris Murdochian, but sort of condensed. I’ve read The Outsider in French, couldn’t do that now!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 09, 2020 @ 19:26:36
I wouldn’t begin to attempt a book in French, so I admire anyone who does. This was a great read – highly recommended!
literarygitane
Oct 13, 2020 @ 14:35:27
Great review! I have read the book during college days and it’s time to revisit. I’ll probably get a lot more out of it with age and experience. 😀 I recently re read The Plague and it was an apt pick albeit a little scary to read during a pandemic.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Oct 13, 2020 @ 14:37:40
Thank you! I don’t read enough Camus so it was a perfect time to be nudged into a revisit! 😀