L'étranger

"Quand la sonnerie a encore retenti, que la porte du box s'est ouverte, c'est le silence de la salle qui est monté vers moi, le silence, et cette singulière sensation que j'ai eue lorsque j'ai constaté que le jeune journaliste avait détourné les yeux. Je n'ai pas regardé du côté de Marie. Je n'en ai pas eu le temps parce que le président m'a dit dans une forme bizarre que j'aurais la tête tranchée sur une place publique au nom du peuple français."--Page 4 of cover. Meursault is a French Algerian who learns of his mother's death by telegram. Meursault's indifference to the news of his mother's death demonstrates some emotional detachment from his environment. There are multiple instances throughout the novel where significant moments do not have an emotional impact on Meursault. He doesn't show emotion to the fact that his mother is dead. Another aspect of Meursault is that he is an honest person. He always speaks his mind and does not care how other people see him. He is regarded as a stranger to society due to his indifference. The first part of the novel concludes when Meursault shoots and kills an Arab after being out in the sun for most of the day. Part II of this short novel is concerned with Meursault's trial, imprisonment, and encroaching execution. But throughout Camus is less interested in plot and more in using character and the sequence of events to elaborate his own theory of existentialism and the absurdity of man's position in relation to a universe of indifference.

183 pages ; 18 cm. Murder--Fiction. Algeria--Fiction. In French.