Written and reworked between 1936 and 1938, A Happy Death was Camus’s first novel but not published until 11 years after his death.

It has similarities to The Stranger, such as the name of the main character, his job and a murder.

The novel tells the story of Mersault, a French-Algerian clerk, who commits a murder and then tries to find happiness.

Major characters

Patrice Mersault: a young French-Algerian clerk

Marthe: Mersault’s girlfriend

Roland Zagreus: a man with amputated legs who is killed by Mersault

Lucienne: Mersault’s wife