Albert Camus and Maria Casarès Love Letters Published in English

For the first time in English, a compilation of 865 love letters between Albert Camus and actress Maria Casarès, written from 1944 to 1959, has been released. Translated by Sandra Smith and Cory Stockwell, these letters unveil a passionate relationship that commenced in Paris on June 6, 1944, coinciding with the Normandy landings. The two met at a gathering organized by Simone de Beauvoir. Their correspondence, spanning 15 years with a four-year break post-1944, delves into topics such as politics, literature, and everyday life. Additionally, the letters shed light on Camus's involvement with the French Resistance during the Occupation. His last letter alludes to the car accident that claimed his life on January 4, 1960. Following his passing, friend René Char returned the letters to Casarès, who subsequently entrusted them to Camus's daughter, Catherine, who penned the preface. The book is published by Penguin Classics.