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In the early 1950's, Albert Camus, the renowned existentialist and Nobel prize-winner, visited the American Church in Paris to hear the music of the famous organist Marcel Dupre. What he found was an unexpected friend--Howard Mumma, a Methodist minister from Ohio who was serving as a guest preacher. Intrigued by Mumma's philosophy and theology based on a living faith in a higher power, Camus invited Mumma to lunch and thus a surprising friendship was formed.

Over the next several years, through a series of profound conversations with Howard Mumma, Camus explored the Christian faith. These discussions, as recalled by Mumma in the first part of this book, offer a deeply personal side of Camus not seen by the public eye. In the second part, Mumma shares personal glimpses of the people and experiences that had a profound influence on his own life enabling him to understand what Camus was facing in his personal life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

This should have been two books
On the portion of this book related to Camus:

I have read everything translated into English of Camus I could find, except for Christianity and Neoplatonism, which is on my list.

I picked up the Mumma book because I saw Camus' face on the cover, and was intrigued by the idea - I had the desire to read dialogues between these two minds.

Mumma's goal here is not dialogue, it is at the farthest stretch a confession of his failure, and a presentation of what were his arguments to an intelligent, thinking non-Christian man about Christianity and the Bible.

He says very early on that he failed Camus, but points most directly to his stance on not baptizing him and Camus 'suicide', as he explains it.

Where he fails Camus is much more devious - Camus was not ignorant of religion, Christianity, the saints, etc. - the title of aforementioned Christianity and Neoplatonism should illustrate that pretty fully.The Mumma book is a record, not of dialogues between him and Camus, but of the things Mumma said in an attempt at a celebrity conversion.It there had been real dialogue, I wouldn't use 'celebrity conversion' as the derogatory phrase I intend it to be.Camus certainly asked 'simplistic' questions, because he wanted to know where the man stood.Camus' own words, thoughts, and ideas regarding the matter were however truncated - either by a very polite and non-confrontational Camus, or by a minister who kept no record of it.Camus' words were recorded only in as much as he agreed with Mumma.

Judge for yourself by this singular passage - it speaks of things the minister wanted to be true about Camus but could not know, based on the assumption that joy isn't possible without an attempt to know Christ:

"Here he sat before me, head lowered.The depressed look in his eyes was accented by the little pouches of skin under each one.Despite all of his brilliant success and the fame as a writer, sadness remained his dominant emotion.I wondered what he thought as he sat there.How did he think that I, a guest minister from America, could possibly help him?How could I help him find the answers for which he was ardently searching? As I watched him, I realized that his was more than intellectual curiosity.He wanted more than just a comprehension of faith.He wanted to experience this faith and have it act in his own life."

I find it quite possible that the 'depressed look' and 'little pouches' might have reflected, instead of a desire for an experience of living faith, a desire for a cure for tuberculosis.

This is the tone of the book - at least the portion on Camus.It is a minister's projection of his own definitions and explanations onto a mind I'm not convinced he understood.Judging from the conversations, it certainly doesn't seem like the minister was insterested in asking any questions of his own - he already had his own answers.

I will qualify this in one way, however - in reading Mumma's views on the Bible and Christianity, I think he offers a much more ecumenically conciliatory point of departure than what passes for 'True Christianity' in this country.Special pleading and self-righteousness, it is my hope, will be the death of religions one day.However, had religion in the past 50 years followed the ideas and types of ideas of people like Mumma, our world would be devoid of its everpresent fundamentalism.

On the rest of this book:

I find it a shame, after completing the other section of the book, that these were not separate volumes.I, like others reviewers here, find Mumma's presentation of a nearly converted Camus very suspect.I think a lot of revelation can be gleaned from Camus' desire for a personal, private baptism - this was a friend, and he wanted to strengthen that friendship.I feel the same way towards my Christian friends. On the other hand, the rest of the book is much more interesting, and in fact I could have read a much longer version of what was offered there.Again, it seems as if the first section was his confession.

Too Many Unanswered Questions
It's a matter of record that Albert Camus wrote his Master's thesis on "Christian Metaphysics and Neo-Platonism: Plotinus and Saint Augustine" under the supervision of a professor, Jean Grenier, who was something of an expert on Eastern religions. Considering all his study, considering The Plague, The Fall, The Myth of Sisyphus, all else that he wrote, is it possible that Albert Camus could have been as naive as Howard Mumma portrays him? The thrust of the entire narrative seems to have been that Camus came to an American Protestant minister looking for something he had never found before in religion, and found it in, of all places, a Protestant translation of the Bible--as if he had been completely unfamiliar beforehand with its stories and lessons. We may never know the entire truth, but the rehashing of the precepts of the Protestant myth of "sola Scriptura" is so pronounced herein that somehow this book seems to have the taste of the same sort of pious fiction that gave us Voltaire's supposed deathbed horrors.

very, very suspect
i am not quite an encyclopedia entry on Camus, but I am very VERY suspicious of this account by Howard Mumma.this man basically claims that Camus had most decidedly chosen to become a Christian just prior to his death.he also asserts that Camus committed suicide.as an interested reader, does this not strike you as odd?if this is one man's attempt to disgrace the reputation of Camus - a "man and a thinker" - for the sake of political gain...shame shame SHAME ON YOU!if not, well, i apologize for calling you a filthy liar.

Flawed and Beautiful
Mumma in the foreword acknowledges his bias and inaccuracy (he wrote the book almost 40 years after Camus' death, and was around 90 at its publishing).One cannot take the book in a 100% literal fashion - there are clear victims of inaccuracy in the text.However, the story as a whole is an excellent narrative of the existential struggle between the two extremes of Jean-Paul Sartre's thoughts and Mumma's Christianity, with Albert Camus' frustration with the universe straddling the chasm.

On another note, it is impossible to verify the book, Mumma notes that Camus did not want to be identified with a Methodist "priest".In the text, when speaking over dinner, Camus shuns any and all publicity.It is clear that these conversations were never intended to be public - and Camus and his biographers did not mention it.

biased
While interesting for anecdotal pieces on Camus himself, Mr. Mumma is, however, biased & blinded by his religious beliefs and misunderstands Camus (not to mention that one wonders if some of the memories themselves are not... biased...). Certainly not a major addition to the body of intellectual studies related to Camus... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Brilliant Thoughts Leading Everywhere
Most of the kernels in Camus's notebooks could be the seeds for short stories or even novels. He was brilliant and far less sombre in these notes than in the great novels and essays. For those who think Camus merely a son of Kafka, these errant thoughts provide showers of sparks for the mind.

through the looking glass
This book is definately reserved for the true Camus lover. It's mostly just a collection of jumbled thoughts, not for anyone looking to be entertained. It gives great insight into his everyday life and if imagining how Camus lived is as fascinating to you as it is to me then you will love this book.

A Little Gem
A wonderful collection of the random thoughts of a brilliant writer..he later used these notes to createhis masterpieces, unforgettable and poignant, a treasure to have in one's library.

don't bother
Larry McMurtry once wrote that one should never set out to read everything written by a particular author.Of course that was Larry McMurtry and I have come to realize that he was right about himself and many other authors."Notebooks 1935-1942" is evidence that it is true even about Albert Camus.Enthralled by "The Stranger" and "The Plague", I set out to read everything by this author.I blamed myself for not enjoying his complicated essays.I also blame myself for thinking that this collection of random thoughts, scenarios, and quotes would be worth the time it took to read it.There are occassional observations of note but they are lost in the lack of continuity of thought.The art of literature lies not in having great ideas.The art of literature lies in creating stories and scenarios that enable the reader to discoverthe truths the author would like discovered.

For students of Camus there could be some benefits in reading this "book".The first part of the notebook generally focuses on material used in "A Happy Death" while the very latter part of the notebook generally focuses on material used in "The Plague".

So many Books, so little time.Don't waste your time on this one. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

very good companion book
I found this little gem in a used book store in a college town after having read 'The Fall', 'The Stranger' and 'The Plague'. This is not so much a biography or literary criticism as it is a reading companion. A well written examination of Camus' work for the casual philosopher who wants to get the most out of their literary experiences with Camus. Philip Thody was Assistant Lecturer of French at Queen's University of Belfast at the time of publication (1959).

The chapters are 1) The Expression of The Absurd 2)Resistance and Revolt 3) The Plague 4) Two Plays 5)True Rebellion and False Rebels 6) The Creative Revival and 7)Achievement and Limitations.
It is paperback bound.

Philip Thody dicusses pertiant existensial topics and uses the philosophical allegroies found in most of Camu's works with excellent focus on 'The Plague'. The language is concise and clear. I found both disagreement and agreement with many points and observations made. The Reference section is robust and helful for further study. A solid find in any used book store. Recommended for any entry level, moderate or self studied student of the French Existensialists. It may also be a useful for anyone who simply doesn't 'get' what all the fuss is about for Camus. ... Read more

Product Description
Reflecting the profound influence he continues to exert on popular consciousness, Camus examines the complete body of works of French author and philosopher Albert Camus, providing a comprehensive analysis of Camus’ most important works—most notably The Myth of Sisyphus, The Stranger, The Fall, The Plague, and The Rebel—within the framework of his basic ethical orientation.

• Makes Camus’ concerns clear in terms that will resonate with contemporary readers
• Reveals the unity and integrity of Camus’ writings and political activities
• Discusses Camus’ ongoing relevance by showing how he prefigures many postmodern positions in philosophy, literature, and politics

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Customer Reviews (1)

A Unique Perspective
A long time student of Camus' works, I thought I knew everything there was to know about this man.However, this book along with "Albert Camus and the Minister" have left me with a fresh perspective on Camus.Not to say that it destroys the image of the man that other works personify, but it does work to fill in the gaps and in some cases bring to light new things about a well known man, of whom little is truely known. ... Read more

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En este ensayo, Camus elabora una profunda reflexion sobre la condicion humana, y sugiere una etica del absurdo: el hombre cuya existencia esta desprovista de trascendencia, halla un sentido en el ejercicio pleno de la lucidez y en la asercion consciente de todos sus actos. ... Read more

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