Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-02-17


fall of the Nazis as the SYM
boliSm of the story, though it
could as we'll have applied to
a greater menace, Russian
communism. In any event,
here is M. Camus' first novel
since THE Plague:
THE FALL, translated by
Justin O'Brien (Knopf; So
This is an altogether differ
ent sort of novel, and, indeed,
it can be called a novel only
by the extreme fiexibility of
the modern definition. These
days almost any form of fic-
ton. longer than a short story.
however anonymous, is called
a novel.
Expatriate Frenchman
1.-THE Fall" is a monologue
by an expatriate Frenchman
whom a fellow countryman
meets in a shabby bar in Am
sterdam haunted by dubious
characters. The expatriate,
observing that the other
Frenchman speaks no Dutch.
translates for him, obtains his
drink and, falling into ac-
quaintance. offers during the
next few days a sketchy YER
sion Of his life.
The monologuist, we learn,
Is. or was. a Partisan lawyer.
He is, in his way, a philoso-
pher. Outwardly he was highly
respected-an ornament to the
bar, a fighter for justice. an
esteemed citizen. More per-
sonally. he was a libertine, q
sybarite. who used his law
practice and his benefactionS
as a front and a means of liv-
ing a life of luxury. In time,
inevitably, being a man Of in
telligence, even of esthetic per-
ception. he became dissatisfied,
disillusioned. He saw judges,
lawyers, passing on the law,
on justice. Who. he asks, is fit
to administer justice, to look
at anything impartially? Is
any one innocent, free from
guilt?
The Question Of Slavery
The hypocrisy Of modern So
ciety came to disgust him.
There was no such thing as
justice. People were enslaved,
in one way or another.
Slavery" he asks. Ger
tainly not. we are against i'll
That We should be forced to
establish it at home or in our
factories-well. that's natural:
but boasting about it, that's
the limit!
Il am well aware that one
can't get along without DOM
ineering or being served. Every
man needs slaves as he needs
fresh air. Commanding is
breathing-you agree with me?
And even the most destitute
manage to breathe. The lowest
man in the social scale has his
wife or his child. If he's I'M
married. dog. The essential
thing. after all. is being able
to get angry with someone who
has no right to talk back. :"
Jean-Baptiste. as he calls
himself. tells his new friend:
Il learned at last that I was
on the side Of the guilty, the
accused, only in exactly so
far as their crime caused me
no harm. Their guilt made me
eloquent because / was not
its victim. When I was threat
ened I became not only a judge
in turn. but even more-an
iraScible master who wanted,
regardless of all laws. to strike
down the offender and get him
on his knees"
DOdging Judgment
Later he remarks: People
hasten to judge in order not
to be Judged themselves I.
It's a matter Of lodging judy
ment. Since it is hard to
judge it. tricky to get ones
nature simultaneously admired
and excused, they all strive
to be rich. Why2 Did you
ever ask yourself? For power.
Of course. But especially be-
cause wealth shields from inn
mediate judgment. takes you
out Of the subway crowd to
inclose you In a chromium
plated automobile. isolateS
you in huge protected lawns.
Pullmans. flrst-class cabins.
Wealth, cher ami, is not quite
acquittal. but reprieve, and
that's always worth taking"
This essay disguised as nc
ton is filled with epigram-
matte asides. Beyond that. I
found. after I had read 1t
slowly-and It's no book to
skim through-that the soft.
almost musical flow Of its SEN
fences had a haunting quality
that fingered In the memory.
What. in sum. 1t means is not
too clear. but there is q strange
mingling Of acid wit and mel
ancholy reflection In this
spare dissertation that may
send you back, - 1t sent me.
to re-read some Of It's passages
time and again.
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