The Stranger
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4.2 • 58 Ratings
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Publisher Description
The Stranger is a 1942 novella by French author Albert Camus. Its theme and outlook are often cited as examples of Camus' philosophy, absurdism, coupled with existentialism; though Camus personally rejected the latter label.
Through the story of an ordinary man unwittingly drawn into a senseless murder on an Algerian beach, Camus explored what he termed "the nakedness of man faced with the absurd." First published in English in 1946; now in a new translation by Matthew Ward.
Translated four times into English, and also into numerous other languages, the novel has long been considered a classic of 20th-century literature. Le Monde ranks it as number one on its 100 Books of the Century.
The novel was twice adapted as films: Lo Straniero (1967) (Italian) by Luchino Visconti and Yazgı (2001, Fate) by Zeki Demirkubuz (Turkish).
Customer Reviews
My first book in a while
I haven't read a book seriously in quite a long time (and I think I've never read philosophy books like this at all), so I'm not sure if my interpretation of this novel is correct. But at first glance, this book feels really boring.
At first, the main character—Arthur Meursault—seems interesting and even unsettling. However, his behavior and reactions start to bore the reader after about 30 pages. That said, I believe this boredom is exactly the emotion that Arthur constantly experiences, so this sense of detachment actually enhances the atmosphere while reading The Stranger.
I enjoy books where the protagonist is not portrayed as an angel because it makes their actions unpredictable. Arthur is a great example of such a character. From start to finish, he behaves in a strange and detached manner, and just when you think you can predict his next move, he does something unexpected—something that neither his friends nor the reader can fully understand. These moments kept me engaged in the story.
The ending is truly powerful. The contrast between the tone of the earlier chapters and the final section is striking. I almost teared up because Arthur's monologue reminded me of my own thoughts during difficult times. I definitely recommend reading this book from start to finish, despite its flaws.
Thank you!