Chapter 2 Summary

Continuing on Styron's thoughts about Camus and Gary in the first chapter, the author relates that Albert Camus had been the singular literary figure by which Styron guided his own life. Camus, a French author and philosopher, spoke about man's alienation from other men, a concept which had a profound impact on Styron.

Styron's dream of soon meeting Camus was cut short with Camus' untimely death in a car accident. The meeting had been arranged by another of Styron's colleagues, Gary Romain, who told Styron that Camus spoke often of suicide and Styron wonders if Camus' decision to ride in a car with a notoriously reckless driver was not somehow the fulfillment of that death wish.

Romain's suicide not long after that is another blow for Styron and the author struggles with the idea that he himself will soon be faced with the...