While Albert Camus is an internationally acclaimed figure, Jean Senac has struggled to gain recognition, even in France and Algeria. The correspondence between the Nobel Prize recipient and the young poet, documented in this illuminating collection, is a testimony to a little-known friendship that lasted for over a decade (1947-1958) and coincided with the escalating conflict between France and Algeria.

Their letters shed light on a passionate conflict that opposed two men on two sides of the Algerian War. On one side, Camus distanced himself from an Algerian insurrection that was becoming increasingly violent. On the other, Senac espoused the armed insurrection of the National Liberation Front and Algeria's right to independence and freedom. The exchange between Senac and Camus allows for a deeper and more personal understanding of the Algerian conflict, and of the crucial role of writers, poets, and thinkers in the midst of a fratricidal colonial conflict.

The letters translated here are also the intimate dialogue between two men who had much in common and who shared a deep love for each other and for their homeland.

About the Author
Hamid Nacer-Khodja (1953 - 2016) was an Algerian author and poet.


Book Information
ISBN 9781611863178
Author Hamid Nacer-Khodja
Format Paperback
Page Count 196
Imprint Michigan State University Press
Publisher Michigan State University Press
Weight(grams) 295g