The Stranger

By: Albert Camus

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

Length: 3 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Albert Camus' The Stranger is one of the most widely read novels in the world, with millions of copies sold. It stands as perhaps the greatest existentialist tale ever conceived, and is certainly one of the most important and influential books ever produced. Now, for the first time, this revered masterpiece is available as an unabridged audio production.

When a young Algerian named Meursault kills a man, his subsequent imprisonment and trial are puzzling and absurd. The apparently amoral Meursault, who puts little stock in ideas like love and God, seems to be on trial less for his murderous actions, and more for what the authorities believe is his deficient character.

This remarkable translation by Matthew Ward has been considered the definitive English version since its original publication. It unlocks the prose as no other English version has, allowing the listener to soak up the richness of Camus' ideas.

©1988 Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

An Important Book, But…

…There are serious flaws.

First, the strengths. Camus wants to convey a sense of the absurdity of the world and of life. He does it in simple prose and narration. The story moves along at a swift and efficient pace. Its surprises are powerful, and the outcome is both tough and natural.

The narration is quite well done.

But here is a fundamental problem I had never sensed before. In Camus’ rendering the courtroom drama absurd, too, the essentialist reader may rightly come to the judgment that were the legal process made better, consistent with principles of justice, the protagonist’s judgment would easily have been avoided.

A modern courtroom run by those principles would have discounted or not even permitted all the extraneous testimony about the handling of the mother’s being sent to the home and her treatment at death. Nor would the love affair been relevant. Etc.

Did the protagonist kill the victim without excuse or not? Was it a capital crime or not? These are not issues of absurdism. They ‘re issues of justice in the courtroom.

So, the reader will more easily go to judicial reform than to the view that all is absurd.

The same is true about the protagonist. He cares a lot about certain things and not at all about others. If he cared more about purpose, standards, and caring about certain things more than others, he (and we) might not turn to absurdism as the condition and explanation of all. I get the rejection of religion. But need there be a rejection of ethics and caring, too? Were there not, we likely don’t get to the same end.

Don’t get me wrong. The book raises compelling issues and makes its case well. I just find internal issues within the character and plot undermining Camus’ direction quite a bit.

But listen for yourself. This is a very important book over the last 75 years.

fascinating

I knew that the novel exemplifies nihilism, but beyond that very little. The novel is somehow simultaneously simple and complex, a lot of subtle information is given by what is not said, as much as by what is said. Worth a read, and probably a few rereads.

Camus masters his art.

Suggestion: Read about Camus' school of thought before listening. A must have for a well read person. I just read The Plague and will keep on reading this great author

interesting

Very accurately depicts the view of those who are less emotional and more connected to the tangible aspects of our lives

favorable translation and adequate performance, listener may want to try Dostoevsky if this was enjoyable but too brief

Existench

Existench : Au de parfum classique. still crazy after all these years. Much shorter than I remember.

Down and dirty.

This is a quick read but has a lot stuffed into its pages. Will read again.

Beautiful

This is absolutely beautiful. To capture existentialism in this few words is outstanding. A must read for any one who questions.

So so

In substance, it is a mediocre book. The narration was excellent though. Not to keen to read the rest of Camus

Good read

First half is a little boring, but the book overall is a good read. Will definitely make you feel rage at the main character for his absurd decisions

Unable to Captivate

Firstly, the worst part of this novel is that it is associated with the French.

Second, the 'actual' problem with this literary piece is the first Part. Part One revolves around the main characters life before and leading up to committing murder. But none of it had captivated my attention, which very well may be my fault. However, this short coming resulted in the latter, more intriguing, second Part Two being harder to follow along with and understand. Fortunately this writing is short and worth a second listen eventually.