Albert Camus's First Marriage and the Making of A Happy Death
In 1933, Albert Camus encountered Simone Hié at the University of Algiers, and they wed on June 16, 1934. Financially, they depended on their families; Camus's uncle assisted with funds and a vehicle, while Simone's mother contributed 450 francs each month for their rent. At the time, Simone struggled with morphine addiction and was without a job, while Camus made a living through tutoring. In 1936, they embarked on a canoe trip across Europe with their friend Yves Bourgeois. Camus, suffering from tuberculosis, opted for bus travel while Simone and Yves canoed. Upon discovering that Simone's doctor was both her supplier and lover, they parted ways after returning to Algiers in September. Camus then spent six solitary days in Prague, which inspired his essay "Death in the Soul" and influenced his novel A Happy Death, later adapted for The Stranger (1942).
Key facts
- Albert Camus met Simone Hié at the University of Algiers in 1933 and married her on June 16, 1934.
- Camus was twenty and Simone nineteen at the time of their marriage.
- Simone Hié was addicted to morphine and unemployed, hoping to study dance.
- Simone's mother, Dr. Marthe Sogler, paid 450 francs monthly for the couple's rent.
- In 1936, Camus, Simone, and Yves Bourgeois took a canoeing trip through Europe.
- Camus had been diagnosed with tuberculosis at seventeen, preventing him from paddling.
- Camus discovered a letter revealing Simone's doctor supplied her with drugs and was her lover.
- Camus wrote A Happy Death between 1936 and 1938 but abandoned it; it was published posthumously in 1971.
Entities
Artists
- Albert Camus
- Simone Hié
- Yves Bourgeois
- Dr. Marthe Sogler
- Patrice Mersault
- Henry Peach Robinson
- Jakub Schikaneder
- Caspar David Friedrich
- Steve Collis
Institutions
- University of Algiers
- The Collector
- Wikimedia Commons
- Los Angeles Times
- Publishers’ Photo Service
Locations
- Algiers
- Algeria
- Prague
- Czech Republic
- Vicenza
- Italy
- Paris
- France