The Stranger
The Stranger is a 1942 novella by Albert Camus, first published in French as L’Étranger.
It follows Meursault, an emotionally detached man in French Algeria, through his mother’s death and a killing on a beach.
What it is
The Stranger is Camus’s first published novel, a philosophical fiction set in French Algeria. It’s told in first person by Meursault, whose indifference drives the plot. The work is closely tied to absurdism and existentialism.
Key details
Published in 1942, the novella’s English editions are titled The Stranger or The Outsider. The story splits into two halves: Meursault’s detached life after his mother’s death and a beach killing, then his trial and punishment.
Why it matters
The Stranger is a major 20th-century French literary text, widely studied in Canadian secondary and post-secondary courses. Its concise style and themes of meaning, morality, and social judgment continue to resonate.
In short
- Written by Albert Camus, first published in French in 1942.
- Follows Meursault’s emotional detachment and a beach killing.
- Explores absurdism, existentialism, and social expectations.
- Widely taught in Canadian literature and philosophy courses.
The Stranger is widely taught and studied in Canadian secondary and post-secondary literature courses as a key 20th-century French-language work.
Quick questions
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Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Stranger-novel-by-CamusSupports: Author, original title, English titles, and publication year.
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stranger_(Camus_novel)Supports: Plot outline, first-person narration, setting, and structure.
- Scribd — https://www.scribd.com/document/864733572/The-Stranger-by-Albert-Camus-SummarySupports: Plot summary and thematic overview.
- Audible — https://www.audible.com/blog/summary-the-stranger-by-albert-camusSupports: Themes, setting, and general literary significance.