LA Peste - Albert Camus

The name of the book is indication enough - the book deals with the terrorising epidemic of bubonic plague in a small bustling commercial city not known to lack anything.

A highly acclaimed author, Camus (pronounced kamo) is unparalleled in style and methodology, not to forget perspective. I first came across La peste in my grandfather?s library, but read ?The Rebel?, an essay first, which left me thirsting for more of Camus.

Written in the 1940s, this book highlights how humans undermine a situation till it gets out of hand, a tendency most of us follow. Those who have followed the Nazimovement will also realise a parallel here, where the plague can be equated to Nazi occupation of Germany.

The book deals with a quiet city of Oran, which may be equated with any modern city ? a capital for wealth, where nature and emotions take a back seat. The focus is on a doctor who tries his best to awaken the city officials to take note of the deadly disease, but who is continually thrust back because he does not have enough proof. And of course, also because the human mind can be so deceptive-deceptive about the surroundings. Based on a true incident, the narrative leaves one with much to think about.

It goes into the details of its main characters (beside the doctor) and thus reveals how human nature works, and why we behave the way we do.

As the bok moves on, the reader does not have any chance to get bored. Not once dos the author linger on any one aspect. He moves fluently from the Dr. Reich, to his friend Tarrou, to the clerk of the city, to the plague, a reporter, a priest and even a smuggler. There are not too many characters, the list ends where I have ended it, but the focus is not how the people suffer in plague. Not plague as a disease, but on Plague as a deterrent to the normal way of life. Plague as a person influencing everyone. Plague ? the change agent. How different people change, adapt and live in the time of a national crisis. What the normal human emotions are, how friendships amongst 'prisoners' can be struck. The French name can summarise Camus? objective extremely well, where Plague is referred to as a woman (La Peste).

Never one to mince words, Camus? characters are alive and breathing. To some extent they may be called a little exaggerated, but what better way to drive home a point?

Camus has won a number of awards because of this book, certainly not the end of his works. His life was short, because of his uncharacteristic and stunning death by a car.

If humans interest you, and good writing is what you live for; if you don?t mind reading a page or two and thinking over it, The Plague is the book for you. The original is in one if the sweetest languages ? French, and if you can, well, read it!

It is indeed sad to see no other review on this page, but there has to be a first one. A warning to people who don?t read the likes of classics, or slow paced, ?heavy?, indirect-written books ? please do not read The Plague, not only will you not enjoy it, it will also be an undeserved negative review for this hitherto well acknowledged milestone book.

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