The FallAlbert Camus ... chose a subject ... worthy of his supreme gifts: the conscience of modern man in the face of evil ... In ... Amsterdam, the man who does the talking in 'The Fall' is indulging in a calculated confession. He recalls his past life as a respected Parisian lawyer, a pleader of noble causes, secure in his self-esteem, privately a libertine, yet apparently immune to judgement, the portrait of a modern man. The irony of the recital predicts the downfall. Inescapable, it comes in the narrator's intense discovery, in the space of one terrible and unforgettable instant, that no man is innocent and no man may therefore judge others from a standpoint of righteousness. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
admit ALAN ALBERT CAMUS apéritif became believe Birth of Tragedy bored breathe BRIDGEHAMPTON CAMUS canals ceased charm cher ami cher compatriote cher monsieur concierge's wife confession contrary course creatures crime Damrak death dream emotion everything face fact fear feel felt forget forgive forgotten freedom FRIEDRICH AND WALTER FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE friends gave Genealogy of Morals give hand happy heard heart Hence imagine innocence judge judge-penitent judgment knew Last Judgment laugh laughter lawyer least leave light little-ease live look matter ment merely Mexico City Myth of Sisyphus nature Necessary Angel ness never once one's oneself Paris Pont des Arts profession PROUST realized reason Sadducee scorn seemed sensuality short smile speech stop sure talk thing thought tion told true virtue walk WALTER KAUFMANN trans WALTER trans WATTS woman women words worry Zuider Zee