There was a time when intellectuals, or followers of cultural affairs, did not write an article or give a lecture without mentioning the French philosopher Henri Bergson, author of the book “Laughter”. To appear as a true intellectual, engaged in human issues, it was always necessary to mention André Malraux, chosen by de Gaulle as minister of culture in his governments. You have to know his disagreements with Ernest Hemingway. Even if you were an ordinary person who wasn’t involved in anything, you were supposed to have read at least one book by Jean-Paul Sartre, a novel by Albert Camus, and be on the left because “the right is stupid “.
This atmosphere reigned not only in the Arab world, but throughout the world. Those who did not read these masters in their own language read them in their translations. Not only did people read them, but they visited the cafes they frequented as if they were historical shrines. Existentialism became a philosophy with followers and evangelists including Dr. Abdul Rahman Badawi, Dr. Suhail Idris and Salama Moussa.
Except for the works of Albert Camus, which are becoming more and more important, widespread and rooted in literary and humanitarian value, there is practically no trace of anyone, few people know who Henri is Bergson and what is his philosophy. You ask for the book “Laughter” in Parisian bookstores and the seller does not know who you are talking about. People know who André Malraux is, but they don’t remember what he wrote. Why did Camus stay and Sartre disappear? Why is Abdul Rahman Badawi no longer in the libraries, while Abbas Mahmoud Al Akkad still fills them? Why do certain works become classics throughout the ages, while tons of other works disappear after a certain time?
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Editor’s note: Mosaïque is a press review which offers the reader a selective and rapid overview of the key subjects covered by renowned daily newspapers and media in the Arab world. Arab news in French is content with a very summary publication, sending the reader directly to the link of the original article. The opinion expressed on this page is the author’s own and does not necessarily reflect that of Arab News in French.
