This book comprises an extensive series of analyses which span the respective oeuvres of these, surprisingly paired, world literary masters. The poet and novelist-philosopher, though treated separately, nevertheless prove complementary book-fellows. Notably, both espouse and practice a vigilant attentiveness; the obligation to strive for good by one’s lights, and to create lest history repeat; and on rare occasions, a duty to engage in moral contradiction for a higher cause, though only after the most scrupulous reflection. This book presents the ingenious artistry of both writers and further proves their contemporary relevance, as well as giving readers the ability to look at the works of Milton and Camus through a new lens.

This book comprises an extensive series of analyses which span the respective oeuvres of these, surprisingly paired, world literary masters. The poet and novelist-philosopher, though treated separately, nevertheless prove complementary book-fellows. Notably, both espouse and practice a vigilant attentiveness; the obligation to strive for good by one's lights, and to create lest history repeat; and on rare occasions, a duty to engage in moral contradiction for a higher cause, though only after the most scrupulous reflection. This book presents the ingenious artistry of both writers and further proves their contemporary relevance, as well as giving readers the ability to look at the works of Milton and Camus through a new lens.

'The literary output of Albert Camus was exceptionally concentrated and well organized, so that each part of it throws light on other parts....Here now, for the first time in a complete English translation, we have Camus' three little volumes of essays, plus a selection of his critical comments on literature and on his own place in it. As might be expected, the main interest of these writings is that they illuminate new facets of his usual subject matter.'-John Weightman, The New York Times Book Review.

Exploring themes that preoccupied Albert Camus--absurdity, silence, revolt, fidelity, and moderation--Robert Zaretsky portrays a moralist who refused to be fooled by the nobler names we assign to our actions, and who pushed himself, and those about him, to challenge the status quo. For Camus, rebellion against injustice is the human condition.

This title was first published in 2003. This text explores the "dark, pessimistic truth that pervades the pages of modern texts", setting a theme of Dante's "Inferno" against the work of modern authors including Dostoyevsky, Hardy, Conrad, Wharton, Kafka, Camus, Waugh and Flannery O'Connor. The author's thesis is that these writers exhibit a hostility towards the reader, an anger that the reader should continue to be so deludedly happy when the writer has become so mortifyingly enlightened. At its most characteristic, Reilly demonstrates, modern fiction seems to achieve a savage satisfaction in inflicting this pain, to an extent that could be described as sadistic. Reilly traces what he calls this "punitive spirit" to a character in the "Inferno", Vanni Fucci, who suffering himself does his best to make Dante suffer too. Through the study he uses the "Inferno" as a guide to the prevailing attitudes in modern fiction, revealing a parallel between the prohibition of pity within the medieval poem and in the pages of modern texts.

Is the year ahead looking much the same as the last? Another 365-day grind of meetings, dinner dates, and deadlines? If so, try this book--the perfect gift for the adventurous reader. Part instruction manual, part therapy, part religious cult, part sheer anarchy, This Book Will Change Your Life will help you poke a stick in the spokes of your routine. It's not the soft-hearted kind of book that's interested in what you have to say; rather it contains 365 daily orders, each one of which could turn your humdrum existence into a daily free-fall. Whether learning to tell one joke properly, spending an hour talking to a tree, or choosing a motto to live by, This Book Will Change Your Life will lead you to make every day of the next year the first day of your new life.