L' étranger

No cover

Albert Camus: L' étranger (1955, Appleton-Century-Crofts)

183 pages

English language

Published Nov. 8, 1955 by Appleton-Century-Crofts.

View on OpenLibrary

4 stars (268 reviews)

L'Étranger (French: [l‿e.tʁɑ̃.ʒe]) 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.The title character is Meursault, an indifferent French Algerian described as "a citizen of France domiciled in North Africa, a man of the Mediterranean, an homme du midi yet one who hardly partakes of the traditional Mediterranean culture." He attends his mother's funeral. Weeks later, he kills an Arab man in French Algiers, who was involved in a conflict with one of Meursault's neighbors. Meursault is tried and sentenced to death. The story is divided into two parts, presenting Meursault's first-person narrative view before and after the murder, respectively. In January 1955, Camus wrote this:

I summarized The Stranger a long time ago, with a remark I admit was highly paradoxical: "In our society any man …

82 editions

Review of 'The Stranger' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

I can relate. Here’s someone drifting through life. Things happen to him, each as inconsequential as the last. My depression makes me think that way more often than not. In fact, this book may be the best representation of how my depression manifests — not a heavy dragging sadness so much as a robotic indifference. I am as indifferent to the universe as it is to me.

Review of 'Der Fremde' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

Ich habe »Die Peste« nicht gelesen, denke aber das »Der Fremnde« ungefähr doppelt so gut ist, da nur halb so lang.
Ja, ja, ja, Existentialismus usw. usw.
Ich dachte, das man mal was von Camus gelesen haben müsste, und das habe ich jetzt auch abgehakt. Ich fand's einfach nur blöd. Meursault interessiert sich für gar nichts (s. Existentialismus), und ich weiß nicht, wieso ich mich für Meursault interessieren sollte.

Review of 'The Stranger' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

This book is straight-forward. A trip into the mind of a man, who acts and thinks like a stoic; his journey through life is simple, basically because he does what he wants and doesn't care for much. He's easily bored and seemingly steers away from what he's not attracted to. He doesn't even do a lot of "mandatory" stuff when he doesn't want to.

Even though I like the descriptions in the book as well as the plot, it's what's not there which interests me most; explanations to the man's behaviour are scarce, and this book is to me akin to Antonioni's "L'Avventura", where a clear plot is far from obvious, if even there.

All in all: short, concise and well-written. Highly interesting, mainly because it's so post-modern.

Review of 'Outsider' on Goodreads

4 stars

1) ''C'est un frôlement qui m'a révéillé. D'avoir fermé les yeux, la pièce m'a paru encore plus éclatante de blancheur. Devant moi, il n'y avait pas une ombre et chaque objet, chaque angle, toutes les courbes se dessinaient avec une pureté blessante pour les yeux. C'est à ce moment que les amis de maman sont entrés. Ils étaient en tout une dizaine, et ils glissaient en silence dans cette lumière aveuglante. Ils se sont assis sans qu'aucune chaise grinçât. Je les voyais comme je n'ai jamais vu personne et pas un détail de leurs visages ou de leurs habits ne m'échappait. Pourtant je ne les entendais pas et j'avais peine à croire à leur réalité.''

2) ''À travers les lignes de cyprès qui menaient aux collines près du ciel, cette terre rousse et verte, ces maisons rares et bien dessinées, je comprenais maman. Le soir, dans ce pays, devait être …

Review of 'The Outsider' on 'GoodReads'

5 stars

Meursault, the outsider, is a character lacking passion, who lives his life by a doctrine of rational thinking and something close to ennui. It is extremely hard to fault this story - each chapter throws up a powerful visual memory, and the characters that surround Meursault are painted through his cogent perceptions of them. This is a wonderful book that leaves a lasting impression.

Review of 'The Stranger' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Instantly captivating story. Very easy to read, although that may be partially because I enjoy shorter books! I can definitely relate to Meursault and the way he reacts to people and how he thinks about things. Coincidentally the second 1940s novel I've read this summer; enjoyed it much more than Sheltering Sky, although both seem to reflect the existential makeup of the WWII era.

reviewed L'étranger by Albert Camus (Collection Folio -- 2)

Review of "L'étranger" on 'Goodreads'

No rating

This book is originally in French, so I'm hoping won't be as hard to figure out as the last French book I attempted to read. Plus, Camus is pretty good about using everyday language and so far the first chapter has been mostly w/in my grasp. On y va!

avatar for cicredopoco

rated it

5 stars
avatar for todosmellamanleo

rated it

5 stars
avatar for fer

rated it

5 stars
avatar for alvizlo

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Alex_Loar

rated it

3 stars
avatar for hill_valley

rated it

4 stars
avatar for illusions_perdues

rated it

4 stars
avatar for KeenOwl

rated it

4 stars
avatar for doubtshrine

rated it

3 stars
avatar for Amerdale

rated it

2 stars
avatar for ngs

rated it

4 stars
avatar for ianbishop

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Catsarelife

rated it

4 stars
avatar for KyleStewart

rated it

5 stars
avatar for omdaru

rated it

2 stars
avatar for wakatara

rated it

2 stars
avatar for gvrijswijk

rated it

4 stars
avatar for ericmcdaniel

rated it

5 stars
avatar for androgynoid

rated it

3 stars
avatar for LuisVilla

rated it

2 stars
avatar for Scoured8735

rated it

5 stars
avatar for kevinpotts

rated it

5 stars
avatar for elunedli

rated it

4 stars
avatar for chriskirk

rated it

5 stars
avatar for vilhelmr

rated it

3 stars
avatar for brucy

rated it

5 stars
avatar for pabs

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Griddle

rated it

4 stars
avatar for KidDogDad

rated it

5 stars
avatar for jbeimler

rated it

4 stars
avatar for hel

rated it

4 stars
avatar for GoneSoul

rated it

4 stars
avatar for agentydragon

rated it

4 stars
avatar for TidePoolParty

rated it

5 stars
avatar for thebbennett

rated it

4 stars
avatar for TheKimmy

rated it

3 stars
avatar for chadkoh

rated it

3 stars
avatar for Lawrence

rated it

5 stars
avatar for fabriek

rated it

4 stars
avatar for brunon

rated it

4 stars
avatar for JustGrist

rated it

5 stars
avatar for unicornia

rated it

2 stars
avatar for souperman

rated it

4 stars
avatar for tiegz

rated it

5 stars
avatar for tylerbones

rated it

5 stars
avatar for mattlehrer

rated it

4 stars
avatar for jv

rated it

4 stars
avatar for jparise

rated it

3 stars
avatar for shithead

rated it

3 stars
avatar for emarsh

rated it

5 stars
avatar for emarsh

rated it

5 stars
avatar for susurros

rated it

4 stars
avatar for AliCorbin

rated it

5 stars
avatar for giantrobot

rated it

3 stars
avatar for uhhpink

rated it

4 stars
avatar for ontology

rated it

2 stars
avatar for 2tinybirds

rated it

3 stars
avatar for xianny

rated it

3 stars
avatar for Realgnomidad

rated it

4 stars
avatar for JohSny

rated it

4 stars
avatar for bondolo

rated it

3 stars
avatar for CSND

rated it

4 stars
avatar for satyajit

rated it

4 stars
avatar for KyleStewart

rated it

4 stars
avatar for 0x520

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Jotizf

rated it

5 stars
avatar for nacoli

rated it

5 stars
avatar for zimmerwald

rated it

5 stars
avatar for sorinb

rated it

5 stars
avatar for benpo

rated it

5 stars
avatar for tgt

rated it

3 stars
avatar for esensar

rated it

5 stars
avatar for moohan

rated it

3 stars
avatar for kmkrebs

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Swarming

rated it

5 stars
avatar for dylanmo

rated it

4 stars
avatar for jectoons

rated it

4 stars
avatar for marino

rated it

4 stars
avatar for kwm

rated it

5 stars
avatar for cameralibre

rated it

1 star
avatar for esensar

rated it

5 stars
avatar for DaveNash3

rated it

5 stars
avatar for neexee

rated it

2 stars
avatar for Shtakser

rated it

5 stars
avatar for bbbhltz

rated it

3 stars
avatar for thomaszimmermann

rated it

4 stars
avatar for andreu

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Ascapola

rated it

3 stars
avatar for proycon

rated it

4 stars
avatar for okenwillow

rated it

5 stars
avatar for gregorsamsa

rated it

4 stars
avatar for SeaJay

rated it

5 stars
avatar for GODot

rated it

5 stars
avatar for cheziceman

rated it

5 stars
avatar for bab

rated it

5 stars
avatar for patatita

rated it

5 stars
avatar for foxm

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Bibulousphile

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Randlatte

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Cor

rated it

5 stars
avatar for kain

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Qwaint

rated it

5 stars
avatar for garmili

rated it

3 stars
avatar for maho

rated it

5 stars
avatar for mckmak

rated it

4 stars
avatar for joshua

rated it

3 stars
avatar for j6m8

rated it

3 stars
avatar for LuisVilla

rated it

2 stars
avatar for baerwolf

rated it

5 stars
avatar for wiz2

rated it

5 stars
avatar for RXN12

rated it

3 stars
avatar for dfings

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Allenshull

rated it

4 stars
avatar for ktabf

rated it

5 stars
avatar for flylaika

rated it

3 stars
avatar for PanaX

rated it

4 stars
avatar for gadabyte

rated it

4 stars
avatar for imbrandon

rated it

5 stars
avatar for themizarkshow

rated it

5 stars
avatar for hammondj

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Shahnoor

rated it

3 stars
avatar for NachoNatto

rated it

4 stars
avatar for androgynoid

rated it

3 stars
avatar for brstf

rated it

5 stars
avatar for phranko

rated it

3 stars
avatar for gamer

rated it

5 stars
avatar for arnoud999

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Flops@books.solarpunk.moe

rated it

5 stars
avatar for ProjectAzar

rated it

4 stars
avatar for dx

rated it

4 stars
avatar for NewCountry

rated it

5 stars
avatar for runarskoll

rated it

5 stars
avatar for court_ellis89

rated it

4 stars
avatar for doug

rated it

4 stars
avatar for flimflam

rated it

3 stars
avatar for neul

rated it

3 stars
avatar for jbtchr

rated it

5 stars
avatar for thursday

rated it

4 stars
avatar for DavidLove

rated it

3 stars
avatar for facundo

rated it

5 stars
avatar for LiminalFlares

rated it

3 stars
avatar for cherold

rated it

5 stars
avatar for steezeburger

rated it

4 stars
avatar for trevor

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Jorn

rated it

2 stars
avatar for kevbot9000

rated it

3 stars
avatar for MrKurtz

rated it

4 stars
avatar for ixnu

rated it

5 stars
avatar for CaerBannog

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Jaldert

rated it

4 stars
avatar for ThomD

rated it

3 stars
avatar for fooozed

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Emily

rated it

3 stars
avatar for deathgrindfreak

rated it

3 stars
avatar for LaDragonista

rated it

4 stars
avatar for f

rated it

4 stars
avatar for piotr

rated it

4 stars
avatar for ChadGayle

rated it

4 stars
avatar for fakelvis

rated it

3 stars
avatar for jlevesque

rated it

4 stars
avatar for synthism

rated it

5 stars
avatar for dankeller

rated it

4 stars
avatar for aly

rated it

5 stars
avatar for gregorygandy

rated it

4 stars
avatar for BojanB

rated it

3 stars
avatar for pauln99

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Nachtfalke

rated it

5 stars
avatar for s_l

rated it

2 stars
avatar for Shtakser

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Autolycus

rated it

3 stars
avatar for gursky

rated it

5 stars
avatar for tronicdude

rated it

5 stars
avatar for nacoli

rated it

5 stars
avatar for rhys

rated it

4 stars
avatar for opiea

rated it

4 stars
avatar for essia

rated it

4 stars
avatar for makmarian

rated it

4 stars
avatar for bentreegecko

rated it

3 stars
avatar for termie

rated it

5 stars
avatar for pneumoREADS

rated it

5 stars
avatar for yepstepz

rated it

5 stars
avatar for shootmanng

rated it

4 stars
avatar for schellenberg

rated it

3 stars
avatar for flancian

rated it

4 stars
avatar for caltf4

rated it

4 stars
avatar for pcambra

rated it

5 stars
avatar for camdotbio

rated it

5 stars
avatar for corvusolty

rated it

5 stars
avatar for jjackunrau

rated it

3 stars
avatar for kevfroe

rated it

5 stars
avatar for kracekumar

rated it

5 stars
avatar for Vincent

rated it

3 stars
avatar for ssssam

rated it

4 stars
avatar for BrettHodnett

rated it

4 stars
avatar for Doomedrider

rated it

4 stars
avatar for GooseThief

rated it

5 stars
avatar for nosmo

rated it

4 stars
avatar for jjackunrau

rated it

3 stars

Lists