Words of Albert Camus
A good frame of mind and a photo in the hallway
Article voiceover
Hello Everyone,
Recently I was in San Francisco and did a book event with Lynn Goldsmith for her book before/Easter/after. We were staying in the same hotel in Japantown, and on the way to our rooms, before saying goodnight, we took this picture in the hallway.
She sent it to me and I thought it would be nice to read you the words of Albert Camus, as they are very heartening. I send all good wishes with hopes everyone is safe after the terrible storms weathered.
words that uplift , recenter the spirit - particularly needed at this time - being confronted by it in the hallway of the hotel with patti and being able to make an image containing Camu's words that has her in the frame which can then be shared with all of you - makes photography purposeful for me - I hope his message spreads .....
I never knew my grandfather, Alexander Scheer. He died before I was born. My grandfather (a Columbia grad) was Albert Camus’ literary lawyer at Knopf. My grandmother, who like my grandfather, was an immigrant and born very poor, kept the dress she wore to the cocktail party when Camus won the Nobel in her closet until she died at 93.
I could not be more proud of this family connection. It was a quote by Camus about embodying freedom being the ultimate act of resistance that got me through the first awful months after the 2016 election. My daughter had me make a copy of the quote and his picture which she still has hung in her room
I highly recommend listening to Viggo Mortensen read Camus’ address at Columbia called “The Human Crisis”, (YouTube) an address he was asked to give at Columbia after the war. The context given around his invitation and the speech itself is interesting, moving and gives such a grounding in purpose