The Stranger
Translated by Matthew Ward

Albert Camus’ 1942 classic. Here are the opening lines: “Mother died today Or, maybe, yesterday; I can’t be sure. The telegram from the Home says: YOUR MOTHER PASSED AWAY. FUNERAL TOMORROW. DEEP SYMPATHY.” A telegram, not a personal phone call or someone on staff from the old people’s home actually......more

A short review because there are so many other good reviews of this classic. When I first read this eons ago, I assumed “the stranger” was the Arab man that the main character kills on the beach. (It’s set in Algeria.) Not so. Meursault, the main character, is a man without feelings and one incapabl......more

Aujourd'hui, maman est morte. Ou peut-être hier, je ne sais pas. الحياة لا تساوى أي عناء هذا هو الشعار الأعظم لفلسفة اللامبالاة تلك الفلسفة التي يتمسك بعضنا بها كطوق نجاة أخير تلك الفلسفة التي أتمسك أنا بها كطوق نجاة أخير لا يعرف أبدا أي بشري هذه الفلسفة حتى يتألم ألما عظيما إما أن يقضي عليه وإما يعيد بعثه......more

y'know it's quite impressive that Camus managed to write a whole novel from the perspective of that guy who you always avoid at house parties.......more

If You Exist "The Stranger" dramatises the issues at the heart of existentialism. The same issues are probably at the heart of life, whether or not you believe in a god. Being Judged It's interesting that there has been a crime and now Meursault is being "judged". The judgement is symbolic not only of th......more