Set in Camus'' native Algeria, this story cen tres around Meursault. The young French-Algerian leads an ap parently unremarkable bachelor life until his involvment in a violent incident calls into question the fundamental value s of society '
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Language Notes
Text: English, French (translation)
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
About the Author
Albert Camus was born in Algeria in 1913. He studied philosophy in Algiers and then worked in Paris as a journalist. He was one of the intellectual leaders of the Resistance movement and, after the War, established his international reputation as a writer. His books include The Plague, The Just and The Fall and he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957. Camus was killed in a road accident in 1960.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Albert Camus' "Outsider" is a short, to the point, two part novel. The first introduces us to the characters and leads up to the killing of an Arab on the beach by the principal characters. The second follows his ordeal afterwards, his thoughts and his trial. He is persecuted as a cold killer due to his lack of visible emotion or remorse. He is concerned only for himself.
As mentioned in a previous review, this is a book of thought and questioning. Camus questions the pillars of Western society and questions humanities uncanny ability to believe that the majority is correct and that anybody else is different and thus can be persecuted.
I would recommed "Outsider" for a quick, extremely thought-provoking read. This classic is reknowned as one of the basic foundations of existentialist philosophy.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Paul Weiss
Format:Paperback
Meursault is a clerk in Algiers, an intentionally non-descript young man with no particularly interesting traits, characteristics, skills or habits. Now considered to be mandatory reading for those interested in notions of existential or nihilist philosophy, Albert Camus' "The Outsider" or "L'Étranger" is the story of Meursault's life. Or perhaps it might be more precise to suggest that it is the tale of Meursault's indifference to and virtually complete lack of participation in the events surrounding him - how, in a sense, he is almost an indifferent, meta-observer of his own diffident state of being.
As the story opens, Meursault is told of his mother's death and, although he grudgingly attends her funeral, he does not weep nor does he display any of the typical reactions or emotions that are expected of a person in his situation. In fact, instead of mourning, he engages in a casual sexual relationship with a former acquaintance that he enountered that day. A few days after the funeral, as a result of an almost absurd string of events and circumstances, Meursault shoots and kills a man. But rather than displaying any remorse or concern, we witness Meursault casually sit through his own trial and judgment with virtually complete detachment and indifference. Before his execution, a chaplain attempts to discuss matters of faith with him and turn him to God but, as with other events in his life, Meursault is disinterested and reconciled to the world's lack of interest in him and his fate as well.
In trying to make some sense of what I had read, I wanted to at least learn a little bit about existentialism. As I now undertand it, a central proposition of existentialism is that existence precedes essence, which means that the actual life of the individual is what constitutes what could be called his or her "essence" instead of there being a predetermined essence that defines what it is to be a human. Thus, the human being creates his own values and determines a meaning to his life. Ergo, I am concluding this means that Meursault is the quintessential existentialist in that he had determined the steps of his own life, made his own choices and lived with them. Having done so, he was indifferent to others and their reactions to what he perceived as his own self-worth.
I can say that The Outsider was ... well, interesting. For my tastes, unfortunately, I'd also have to categorize it as very bleak and joyless and certainly far from compelling. Perhaps, as a reader, I'm a bit thick when it comes to thinking of matters philosophical. But it is what it is and perhaps that's why I don't jump up and down suggesting that this is a must read classic. Recommended for those that want to challenge themselves with what one might call a thinking man's classic.
Paul Weiss
As the story opens, Meursault is told of his mother's death and, although he grudgingly attends her funeral, he does not weep nor does he display any of the typical reactions or emotions that are expected of a person in his situation. In fact, instead of mourning, he engages in a casual sexual relationship with a former acquaintance that he enountered that day. A few days after the funeral, as a result of an almost absurd string of events and circumstances, Meursault shoots and kills a man. But rather than displaying any remorse or concern, we witness Meursault casually sit through his own trial and judgment with virtually complete detachment and indifference. Before his execution, a chaplain attempts to discuss matters of faith with him and turn him to God but, as with other events in his life, Meursault is disinterested and reconciled to the world's lack of interest in him and his fate as well.
In trying to make some sense of what I had read, I wanted to at least learn a little bit about existentialism. As I now undertand it, a central proposition of existentialism is that existence precedes essence, which means that the actual life of the individual is what constitutes what could be called his or her "essence" instead of there being a predetermined essence that defines what it is to be a human. Thus, the human being creates his own values and determines a meaning to his life. Ergo, I am concluding this means that Meursault is the quintessential existentialist in that he had determined the steps of his own life, made his own choices and lived with them. Having done so, he was indifferent to others and their reactions to what he perceived as his own self-worth.
I can say that The Outsider was ... well, interesting. For my tastes, unfortunately, I'd also have to categorize it as very bleak and joyless and certainly far from compelling. Perhaps, as a reader, I'm a bit thick when it comes to thinking of matters philosophical. But it is what it is and perhaps that's why I don't jump up and down suggesting that this is a must read classic. Recommended for those that want to challenge themselves with what one might call a thinking man's classic.
Paul Weiss
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Originally L'Etranger, the english version I read was (obviously) a translation from the original French language in which the book was conceived.
The story is in two parts. The first is of Meursault, the main character- establishing and developing his character. It traces his days up until the point where he commits a murder for no apparent reason. The second part describes his incarceration, reflections on what has transpired, and his trial.
It is written plainly enough to be taken as a simple story, which makes it somewhat enjoyable on a most basic level- though to take it as such ultimately defies the purpose of the novel. I wish my French was strong enough to have read the original. I hate translations as they destroy half of any author's story- the language he chooses for his tale.
**WARNING** SPOILERS POSTED BELOW **WARNING**
Historically, the book was partly written to defy the conventions of the time by utilizing the common daily language of the people (instead of the rigid formality that was enforced at the time). It was also written to identify, interpret, explain the ins and outs of Existentialist thought.
The basis of Existentialism, as I understand it, is that life is simply what it is, and no more. Concepts such as God, Heaven, Hell, the Soul, Eternity, Destiny, and so on, are but illusions that we feed upon to define some form of meaning for ourselves. Wake up, (says the Existentialist) your life is only your life. You are not pre-ordained to greatness. There is no Master Plan. You live and die, and in between you will make some choices that are of no ultimate consequence- nothing stops when you do; only you cease to exist. Our life, if I may, is just the flip-side of a coin. When no one is flipping anymore, the coin remains.
In The Outsider, Meursault essentially wakes up one day and realizes that his "life" is manmade, and really, dictated by society; that anything he does or has done will not and can not have any consequence. With this new liberation, he begins a fresh journey, unchained from the burden of the concept of "consequence". Though the story is told from a first-person perspective, it is conveyed in a flat, impersonal tone that would suggest even Meursault himself feels detached from the events that surround him.
When his Mother dies, Mersault is unaffected emotionally (though complains of the distance he must travel for the funeral and the inconvenience of having to miss work) and refuses to put on the show that society demands in such a situation. I believe that Camus had a clear point to prove in how the other characters responded to him. Though he is sincere in his responses, he is perceived by some to be alienating and suspicious, while others continue on playing their game/roles (i.e., his girlfriend Marie) despite his inability (or lack of wont) to play along with them- the former outcast him for not playing along, while the latter simply keep playing as though he were. This illustrates our lack of autonomy from the social body and, ironically, our immobility without it. If this helps, check out www dot yourwords dot ca for more.
Don't bother with this book unless you're into philosophy and pulling a higher meaning out of people's writing. The first time I read it I thought it was garbage until I talked with my Philosophy professor about it and got some insight into the imagery of the text.
**WARNING** SPOILERS POSTED ABOVE **WARNING**
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A misanthrope for a saviour
"The Outsider" by Albert Camus centres on an anti-hero, Meursault, a colonial Algerian, who is similar to Albert Camus in several ways. Read more
Published 10 days ago by Greg Deane
5.0 out of 5 stars
Split skies and shattered harmonies
In Camus's L'Etranger you have the absurd murder and you have the official murder,you have lived experience,and the official account of that experience,the inadequacy of language... Read more
Published 8 months ago by technoguy
5.0 out of 5 stars
A significant book presenting an important philosophy
This 1942 classic is about a man, Meursault, who shoots an Arab eight times without premeditation because he, Meursault, is overcome by the heat of the Algerian sun. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Israel Drazin
3.0 out of 5 stars
Also Known "The Stranger"
The Outsider/The Stranger is the story of young Mersault, a man, apparently devoid of emotions. The plot is simple. Read more
Published on October 9, 2009 by Najla Alowais
5.0 out of 5 stars
make sure you're getting the Stuart Gilbert translation
Alexander Pope's translation (c. 1720) of the Iliad. Now there's a preposterously highblown translation that many would think needed to be redone for the modern age. Read more
Published on August 5, 2009 by Caraculiambro
5.0 out of 5 stars
Some books are meant to be read, others experienced.
Years ago, while on a midnight flight to the United Kingdom, I read a strange book about a young man named Meursault. Read more
Published on December 25, 2008 by Adesh Seuraj
4.0 out of 5 stars
Controversial, Challenging, and Vivid!
The Outsider is an interesting introduction to Existential-type thought. But don't dismiss it for that reason if that bothers you! Read more
Published on November 29, 2008 by Mark Nenadov
4.0 out of 5 stars
Short But Sweet.
Camuses book 'The Outsider' follows in a very vivid and simple style the life of Meursault, whilst wearing the spectacles of a society 64 years previous the book has as much... Read more
Published on March 2, 2006 by tonto
5.0 out of 5 stars
L'Etranger de Albert Camus
Il est un homme qui ne joue pas le jeu. Il est un peu différent et pour cette raison, il n'est pas accepté dans la société. Il est Meursault. Read more
Published on December 1, 2000 by Hilary
5.0 out of 5 stars
L'etranger de Camus
Différent. Ceci est le premier mot qui me frappe apres avoir lu L'Etranger d'Albert Camus. Apparement l'histoire est tres simple. Read more
Published on December 1, 2000 by CCdV
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