Albert Camus, born in colonial Algeria, developed existential ideas that shaped his literary works.

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 | Literature | Biography |
Updated By: History Editorial Network (HEN)
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Albert Camus was born in Mondovi, French Algeria, in the early 20th century. Mondovi, a small town situated in the Constantine region, was part of the French colonial empire at the time. Camus’ parents were French citizens living in Algeria, which provided him with a unique cultural heritage, blending French and Algerian influences. His father, Lucien Camus, was a poor agricultural worker who soon enlisted in World War I. His mother, Catherine Sintès, was of Spanish descent and partially deaf. The family's financial struggles and his father's subsequent death in the First Battle of the Marne meant that Camus grew up in a household led by a single, working-class mother. Raised in the Belcourt neighborhood of Algiers under these challenging socioeconomic conditions, Camus was exposed to the complexities of colonial life, including notions of oppression and identity that would later feature prominently in his work. Albert Camus eventually pursued higher education with support from his teachers, particularly Louis Germain, who recognized his intellectual potential. Camus studied philosophy at the University of Algiers, marking the beginning of an illustrious career in literature and philosophy. His formative years in Algeria significantly influenced his existential and absurdist thoughts, which he articulated through works such as "The Stranger," "The Myth of Sisyphus," and "The Fall." Camus' background as a pied-noir, a term for French nationals living in Algeria, and his experiences growing up in a colonial regime underpinned his philosophical inquiries into the absurd, humanism, and rebellion. His contributions earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature, making him one of the youngest recipients and cementing his role as a prominent intellectual figure of the 20th century. #AlbertCamus #Philosophy #FrenchAlgeria #NobelPrize #MoofLife
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