The Stranger

By: Albert Camus

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis

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

Great reader

I tried several times to read this book but it never held my attention. The audio quality and the tone and inflection of the reader was excellent so that the story became quite interesting and made for easy listening.

Interesting, almost there, but not for me

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No. I''m just not sure any of my friends would enjoy it.

What was most disappointing about Albert Camus’s story?

I know it is a specific style, but it just didn't work for me.

Which character – as performed by Jonathan Davis – was your favorite?

Can't say there was a favorite character.

Do you think The Stranger needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No.

A gem

One of the best books ever. Now I want to read/listen to all his books. The narration was great too.

Contemporary viewpoint

Evaluating this not as a classic masterpiece but as a book on current standards, Stranger seems like an unnecessarily long and at times intentionally disgusting introduction for a short burst of existential philosophical pondering at the very end. No doubt it was an important milestone in popularizing existentialism, but to me at least, offered no ideas I haven’t encountered numerous times in contemporary fiction, right up to Black Mirror and such. This tends to be the problem with classics in my opinion; knowing them obviously has value, but don’t expect to get new ideas.

Cracked My Mind From The First Two Sentences

A masterpiece of French literature where the Camusian philosophy of the absurd is explored through Meursault from the very first thought to the very last one.