The Outsider: Albert Camus

The Outsider (1942), also known as L'Etranger, is a classic existentialist novel by Albert Camus that explores the theme of alienation. The story follows an individual who refuses to conform to social norms and experiences isolation from society due to his lack of remorse for his actions.

The novel begins with the death of the protagonist's mother, which he does not express any emotions towards, simply to satisfy the expectations of others. Later on, he commits a random act of violence on a beach near Algiers and is unable to feel guilt or remorse, which further distances him from society and the law.

Camus' portrayal of a man who confronts the absurdity of life and revolts against the injustice of society highlights the paradox of human joy in the face of the world's "tender indifference." Sandra Smith's translation, based on Camus' own reading of his work, captures the subtleties and dreamlike atmosphere of the novel.

Albert Camus (1913-1960) was a French novelist, essayist, and playwright who is considered one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century. His other notable works include The Myth of Sisyphus (1942), The Plague (1947), The Just (1949), The Rebel (1951), and The Fall (1956). Camus was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957.

Sandra Smith, an American professor of French Literature and Language at Robinson College, University of Cambridge, has won several translation prizes for her work on Camus' novels.