just some pagan author

"But to be pure means to rediscover that country of the soul where one's kinship with the world can be felt, where the throbbing of one's blood mingles with the violent pulsations of the afternoon sun." -Albert Camus

Many people are made to read "The Stranger" by Albert Camus in highschool, as an introduction to existentialist literature. Camus' novel is excellent, no doubt, but it pales in comparison to his earlier ventures into the stylized literary essay. The above excerpt from one of his essays entitled "Summers in Algiers" really captures the essence of his style and energy throughout this essay and many of his essays in general. I picked up his collection of essays from the store and by the time I had read the first page, I hated Camus' novels. Well not really, but stark difference in style and raw power between the two is so tremendous that it doesn't even seem like they were written by the same individual. I guess the who point of this advertisement is to tell you to go get Camus' collected essay, it's called "Lyrical and Critical Essays," by Albert Camus. The old Camus slips you into his writing and the young Camus punches you in the face with it. Cheers.