L'étranger

New edition.

A handsome copy, covers very lightly browned, discreet restorations to the joints.

Rare presentation copy, signed and inscribed by Albert Camus: "to Madame Jean Labattut whom I thank three times, in respectful homage, Albert Camus."

Inscribed copies of Camus' masterpiece are exceedingly scarce.

The recipient could be Streline Mercedes Terradell, who served as a nurse in France during WW1. In 1929 she married Jean Labatut (also spelled Labattut), architect and teacher, who a primary force behind the development of Princeton University's School of Architecture, 1928-1967 and designed architectural projects around the world, including Spain, Havana (Cuba), and Princeton.

In 1953, Labatut became a member of the American Academy in Rome. That same year, at Le Corbusier's request, Albert Camus wrote the commentary for Jean Sacha's documentary on the Cité Radieuse. Could this have been the occasion on which Camus approached the Labatut couple for information on the subject, thereby explaining the mysterious \"triples remerciements\" in the inscription adorning this rare presentation copy?

Despite the wealth of scholarship devoted to Albert Camus, our copy reveals that the life of one of the twentieth century's greatest writers still holds intriguing mysteries, not least this curious encounter between the Stranger and a stranger.