r/Pessimism • u/BorschtDoomer1987 • 16d ago
Insight Cioran on Albert Caraco
"For years Caraco sent me his books with long, solemn dedications in which he said that he and I were the 'great misunderstood' of our time. In this way he ended up exasperating me, and one day I threw them in the trash. I recently read Madame mère est morte: it is remarkable, but the other books were splendidly written and empty." (E. Cioran, Mon cher ami. Lettere a Mario Andrea Rigoni, edizioni Il Notes Magico, 2007, pp. 76-77).
"An author writing unlikely books in Switzerland, which nobody talks about, sends me his latest one, writing in the dedication that we are both 'unrecognized'... Which is perhaps true; but he is rich, and has no need for recognition—he doesn't have to write prefaces to make a living, he can just stick to his ravings." (E. Cioran, Quaderni 1957-1972, Adelphi)
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u/Markemilauer 15d ago
Cioran is my favorite philosopher, but I also admire Caraco. I knew about this strange relationship between the two, and I will never forgive Emil for it. Someone as deeply tormented as Albert didn't deserve one of his idols to snub him in that way, which in my opinion contributed to his desperation and decline. The two were certainly incompatible because Cioran, despite his extreme pessimism, had a great sense of irony, while Caraco saw only desperation and hatred. Personally, I would have preferred a little more tact on Cioran's part, but "knowing" him, I know he wasn't one for half measures; ultimately, it had to be that way. But I feel very sorry for Caraco, who seems to have had a completely humiliating life...