The Meursault Investigation

The Meursault Investigation

1st US version
(publ. Other Press, 2015)[1]
Author Kamel Daoud
Original title Meursault, contre-enquête
Translator John Cullen
Country Algeria
Language French
Genre Philosophical novel
Published 2013 by Barzakh Editions (French)
Pages 191 pp
Awards Prix Goncourt du Premier Roman (2015)
Prix François-Mauriac (2014)
ISBN 978-9931-325-56-7
OCLC 874450228
843.92
LC Class PQ3989.3.D365

The Meursault Investigation (French: Meursault, contre-enquête) is the first novel by Algerian writer and journalist Kamel Daoud. It is a retelling of Albert Camus's 1942 novel, The Stranger. First published in Algeria by Barzakh Editions in October 2013, it was reissued in France by Actes Sud (May 2014). Its publication in France was followed by nominations for many prizes and awards.

Relationship to Camus' The Stranger

Meursault, the protagonist of Camus' novel The Stranger, murders a character known only as "the Arab," saying, in his trial, that the murder was a meaningless gesture caused by sunstroke or God's absence. Camus left Meursault's victim nameless, but Daoud gives him a name: Musa. The Meursault Investigation revisits these events, but from the point of view of Harun, Musa's brother.

Giving a name to Meursault's nameless victim, for Daoud, is about more than just revisiting a minor character. In an interview with the Los Angeles Review of Books, Daoud said: "Ever since the Middle Ages, the white man has the habit of naming Africa and Asia's mountains and insects, all the while denying the names of the human beings they encounter. By removing their names, they render banal murder and crimes. By claiming your own name, you are also making a claim of your humanity and thus the right to justice."[2]

In the same interview, when asked what prompted him to write the book, Daoud stressed the centrality of The Stranger to his identity as an Algerian Francophone writer.[2] In other outlets, Daoud has confirmed the integral role that The Stranger played in the genesis of The Meursault Investigation, describing his novel as "a dialogue with Camus."[3]

Critical reception

After the book was translated into English by John Cullen and published by Other Press in 2015, it received positive reviews in the English-language publications. Azadeh Moaveni, writing for The Financial Times, called it "perhaps the most important novel to emerge out of the Middle East in recent memory."[4] Writing for the New York Times Book Review, Laila Lalami described it as Daoud's "rich and inventive new novel."[5] Michiko Kakutani called it "stunning."[6] In April 2015, an excerpt of The Meursault Investigation was featured in The New Yorker.[7]

Religious controversy in Algeria

On December 16, 2014, a death threat against Daoud was issued from a Facebook page that is now locked.[3] Abdelfattah Hamadache, the radical Islamist preacher who issued the fatwa, leads a Salafist group called the Islamic Awakening Front.[3] Hamadache has labeled Daoud an apostate, "an enemy of religion," a "deviant creature" and a "collaborator."[3][8] He called on the Algerian state to execute Daoud, on the grounds that he is leading a "war against God and the prophet."[3]

Daoud has filed a complaint for incitement with the ministry of religious affairs.[9] Various individuals and groups have also signed petitions and published open letters in support of Daoud.[3] Defending himself against the charge of blasphemy in a TV interview, Daoud said: "It was a fictional character in the novel who said these things, not me. If we judge people on the basis of characters in their books, we will be facing dark times in Algeria."[8]

Honors and awards

Meursault, contre-enquête won the 2015 Goncourt first novel prize, the 2014 Prix François-Mauriac and the 2014 Prix des cinq continents de la Francophonie. It was shortlisted for the 2014 Goncourt prize.

References

  1. ↑ "The Meursault Investigation: Daoud, Kamel - Other Press". Other Press. 2015-06-02. Retrieved 2015-08-02.
  2. 1 2 Daoud, Kamel & Robert Zaretsky. "Insolence, Exile, and the Kingdom: Robert Zaretsky interviews Kamel Daoud" Los Angeles Review of Books Los Angeles, 9 June 2015. Retrieved Nov 6 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Carvajal, Doreen. "An Algerian Author Fights Back Against a Fatwa" The New York Times New York, 4 Jan 2015. Retrieved 8 Nov 2015.
  4. ↑ Moaveni, Azadeh. "'The Meursault Investigation', by Kamel Daoud" Financial Times. London, July 10, 2015. Retrieved Nov 6 2015.
  5. ↑ Lalami, Laila. "'The Meursault Investigation' by Kamel Daoud" New York Times Book Review, New York, 8 June 2015. Retrieved on 6 November 2015
  6. ↑ Kakutani, Michiko. "Review: Kamel Daoud Interrogates Camus in 'The Meursault Investigation'" New York Times Book Review New York, May 28, 2015. Retrieved Nov 6 2015.
  7. ↑ http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/04/06/musa?intcid=mod-yml
  8. 1 2 The Middle East Media Research Institute. "Islamist Politician Demands Execution of Algerian Author Kamel Daoud for Blasphemy in His Book", Washington, D.C., December 19–22, 2014 (Video clip available here). Retrieved 8 Nov 2015.
  9. ↑ Shatz, Adam. "Stranger Still" The New York Times Magazine, New York, 1 April 2015. Retrieved 8 Nov 2015.
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