As we mentioned last week, New York is currently holding a month-long festival celebrating Albert Camus' historic visit to NYC 70 years ago. One event in the festival featured actor Viggo Mortensen giving a reading of Camus' lecture,“La Crise de l’homme” ("The Human Crisis") at Columbia University--the very same place where Camus delivered the lecture 70 years earlier--down to the very day (March 28, 1946). The reading was captured on a cell phone, and broadcast live using Facebook live video. It can be jittery, but if you close your eyes and give a listen, it will be worth your time. Note that Mortensen takes the stage around the 11:45 mark.
"The Human Crisis" will be added to our collection, 1,000 Free Audio Books: Download Great Books for Free. You can download major works by Camus as free audiobooks if you sign up for a 30-Day Free Trial with Audible.com. Find more information on that program here.
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Related Content:
Albert Camus: The Madness of Sincerity — 1997 Documentary Revisits the Philosopher’s Life & Work
Great choice for Camus reading. he was amazing in the Film Based on Camus book.
The delivery from the actor is dire – reminiscent of a poor poet reciting unfamiliar mediocre poetry they have churned out. A shame as Camus is superb at times.
Provide a link to the vid. not loading.
I don’t feel this way at all. His delivery is deep and brooding. I find it easier to listen to than if he had done more “acting” with it.
https://www.facebook.com/columbia/videos/10153648665938937/
Does anyone know where to find a transcript or a copy of Camus’ “The Human Crisis”?
Yeah I think I’m going to transcribe it from this video. I can’t find it anywhere but maybe I’m not looking hard enough.
To Todd,
I have never found a copy. But if Mortensen was able to read this, text must be available.
Sharon
The original French text is available if you searched it but I couldn’t find any English copy of it
Here is a copy of the French:
https://www.nazioneindiana.com/wp-content/2013/10/la-crise-de-lhomme-camus.pdf
I agree. The text is the star. Listening is the art.