'A Happy Death' (La Mort heureuse) is an early novel by Albert Camus, written between 1936 and 1938 but published posthumously in 1971. This seminal work introduces themes central to Camus's philosophy, particularly the pursuit of happiness and the concept of the absurd, serving as a crucial precursor to his more famous novel, 'The Stranger'. The protagonist, Patrice Mersault, embarks on a quest for personal happiness, even committing murder to gain financial independence, thereby exploring the complex relationship between freedom, morality, and the human search for meaning in an indifferent universe.