Crossword Genius

Clubs briefly entertain writer and philosopher (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

camus

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'writer and philosopher' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.

'clubs briefly entertain' is the wordplay.
'clubs' becomes 'c' (abbreviation used in card games such as bridge).
'briefly' means to remove the last letter.
'entertain' becomes 'amuse' (amuse can mean to entertain or divert).
'amuse' with its last letter taken away is 'amus'.
'c'+'amus'='CAMUS'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for camus that I've seen before include "Albert -, Fr. writer" , "Albert -, twentieth century French author (The Plague)" , "French existentialist writer" , "he pondered the human condition" , "He wrote" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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