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The First Man

The Graphic Novel

Albert Camus author Jacques Ferrandez author Ryan Bloom translator

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Pegasus Books

Published:16th Oct '18

Should be back in stock very soon

The First Man cover

This graphic adaptation of The First Man brings Albert Camus's biographical themes to life for modern readers, exploring identity and loss.

This visually striking adaptation offers a fresh graphic interpretation of Albert Camus's renowned biographical novel, making it accessible to a new generation of readers. In this illustrated edition of The First Man, we follow the journey of Jacques Cormery, a character whose life mirrors that of Camus himself. The book beautifully captures the sights, sounds, and textures of a childhood marked by hardship, including the loss of a father and the challenges of poverty, all set against the backdrop of Algeria's austere beauty. The bond Jacques shares with his nearly deaf-mute mother adds depth to the narrative, highlighting the complexities of familial love and resilience.

As Jacques embarks on a metaphorical quest to understand his father's absence, who perished in World War I, Camus explores themes of identity and belonging. The narrative invites readers to reflect on their own searches for meaning in the 'land of oblivion,' where each individual must confront their own truths. This graphic adaptation, published thirty-five years after the discovery of Camus's manuscript following his tragic death, serves as a poignant tribute to his life and literary legacy.

The First Man stands as a brilliant culmination of Camus's work, offering insights into the human condition through evocative illustrations. This edition not only pays homage to one of the twentieth century's greatest authors but also reinvigorates his timeless themes for contemporary audiences, ensuring that his message resonates across generations.

"Vivid and memorable. The figure of Cormery’s domineering grandmother, taking a rawhide switch to the troublemaking boy or up to her elbow in a toilet recovering a two-franc piece, is a synecdoche for the country’s intransigence and desperation. In an indelible chapter recalling a hunting trip in the countryside, Mr. Ferrandez’s panels open up to reveal the land in all its harshness and sun-bleached beauty." * Wall Street Journal *
"Fragments by Camus are tenderly knitted together by translator Bloom and cartoonist Fernandez." * Publishers Weekly *
"The First Man is perhaps the most honest book Camus ever wrote, and the most sensual. Camus is writing at the depth of his powers. It is a work of genius." * The New Yorker [On Albert Camus's THE FIRST MAN] *
"A masterpiece. One of the most extraordinary evocations of childhood that exists in any language." * The Boston Globe [On Albert Camus's THE FIRST MAN] *
"Serves as a kind of magical Rosetta stone to Camus's entire career, illuminating both his life and his work with stunning candor and passion." -- Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times [On Albert Camus's THE FIRST MAN]
"Ferrandez excels with the pale vistas and brilliant light of Algeria, almost a character in the story. An expressive and attractive version of Camus’s challenging parable." * Library Journal [On Jacques Ferrandez's THE STRANGER: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL] *

ISBN: 9781681778631

Dimensions: 290mm x 224mm x 18mm

Weight: 930g

184 pages