The Stranger

From Strand Bookstore

First published in English in 1946. The author's first novel tells the story of an ordinary man who unwittingly gets drawn into a senseless murder on a sun-drenched Algerian beach, introducing millions of readers to "the nakedness...faced with the absurd." 123p. Pap.

From the Publisher

In the story of an ordinary man who unwittingly gets drawn into a senseless murder on a sun-drenched Algerian beach, Camus was exploring what he termed "the nakedness of man faced with the absurd". Now in a new American translation, the classic has been given new life for generations to come.

From the Publisher

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 1946; now in a new translation by Matthew Ward.

Review

Michael Dirda - Washington Post Book World
"From its famous first sentence, 'Mother died today,' to its amazing finale, this short novel is suffused throughout by the harsh glare of the Algerian summer."

Review

Albert Camus - "Story--the man who refuses to justify himself. Other people prefer their idea of him. He dies, alone in his awareness of what he really is."

More about the book

In this stylistically simple, first-person tale 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." Through Meursault, Camus portrays a man who rejects the beliefs and life styles imposed on him by society. The events that lead to his execution only serve to reinforce his feelings of utter isolation. A classic existentialist work, the novel influenced many of Camus's contemporaries, including Roland Barthes, Alain Robbe-Grillet, and Nathalie Sarraute.

Synopses

A guide to reading "The Stranger" with a critical and appreciative mind encouraging analysis of plot, style, form, and structure. Also includes background on the author's life and times, sample tests, term paper suggestions, and a reading list.