Upon its publication in Paris, this novel quickly topped the bestseller lists. It had never been published before, having been unearthed from Albert Camus's papers by his wife. Despite the similarity in names between it and the protagonist of *The Stranger*, *A Happy Death* is entirely different, its theme being the relentless pursuit of happiness, even at the cost of committing a crime. The novel explores the experiences of a young man facing numerous hardships related to poverty, illness, love, and travel, and depicts the psychological struggles that Camus masterfully portrays.