The legendary Albert Camus composed “The Stranger” in 1942. The book is also often referred to as “The Outsider” – in the light of the themes of the novel that are about absurd philosophy, consequences, death, conflict of the soul and human personalities. 

The protagonist of the book is named Meursault and he is the one that narrates the story. He is a Frenchman but lives far away from home in North Africa. Our first encounter with the character happens at the same time as he received notice of his mother’s death. 

He spends the night near his mother’s coffin, not a single tear shed, and then meets his mother’s boyfriend at the funeral. Most of the events leave the hero emotionless and cold. The next scene is happening on the beach where Meursault meets a girl and goes on a date with her. 

Returning home from work, he helps his neighbor lure his mistress back to him so that the neighbor can take revenge on her for cheating. Through a series of events, Meursault ends up being engaged with his neighbor’s mistress. Through a series of other convoluted events, he ends up shooting his fiancé’s brother. 

The book is unique in its style and themes. The events are mingled with descriptions and emotional tensions. It might seem boring at first, but it creates a certain impression in a reader that doesn’t let go for a while after finishing the text. Going to lunch, staying all day in bed, falling asleep in a middle of work – all this is usually skipped in the novels but in Camus text, it received special charm and occupied a dominant place in the book. 

The book is about life as it is, with its ordinary events, regular people and typical behavior. Yet we see how the main hero is sentenced to be condemned for his untypical life and actions. He plays the same game but by the other rules – find out what happens in this situation.

Author: Loretta Bowman