L'Étranger is a novel by Albert Camus, published in 1942. It is part of the trilogy Camus calls the "cycle of the absurd," which describes the basic principles of his philosophy, the absurd. This trilogy also includes the philosophical essay Le Mythe de Sisyphe and the two plays Caligula and Le Malentendu . To date, the novel has been translated into forty languages and was adapted into a film by Luchino Visconti in 1967. In 1999, the magazine Le Monde ranked it number one on its list of the "100 novels of the century."
Story Overview:
The story is told by Meursault, an office worker in Algiers. His life changes when he learns of his mother's death. He travels by bus to the nursing home where she spent her final days and attends the funeral and burial without emotion. The day after the funeral, he meets Marie at a bathhouse. They go to the cinema together and spend the night together. On Sunday, Meursault feels bored and listless.
The following week, Meursault returns to work. He also meets his neighbors again: Céleste, the restaurant owner, old Salamano, who beats his dog, and Raymond Sintès, who the neighbors say "lives off women." Raymond asks Meursault to write a letter to a woman who has cheated on him. The following Saturday, Meursault goes to the beach with Marie. On the way back, they witness Raymond beating his mistress. When the police arrive, Meursault agrees to testify on Raymond's behalf.
One Sunday, Meursault, Marie, and Raymond go to the beach. They are followed by two Arabs, one of whom is the brother of the woman Raymond assaulted. A fight breaks out, during which Raymond is wounded by a stab wound. Later, Meursault returns alone to the scene where he comes face to face with the Arab. Blinded by the sun and the glare of the knife his opponent pulls out, Meursault shoots him with a revolver.
Intertaal offers this literary classic as part of a comprehensive selection, ensuring you can count on a reliable supplier and fast delivery. This novel is suitable for those interested in French literature, language students at level C1 and above, and readers who want to explore existential themes.