The Stranger by Albert Camus
Set in the sun-drenched landscapes of Algeria, this existential novel follows the life of an emotionally detached and indifferent man who becomes embroiled in a series of events leading to a senseless murder. Through his trial and eventual conviction, the narrative explores themes of absurdity, the meaning of life, and the societal expectations of morality. The protagonist's passive acceptance of his fate and his refusal to conform to conventional emotional responses challenge the reader to question the nature of existence and the human condition.
The 31st greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 4026
This book was first published in 1942
41 Lists
- score: 152 -- The Top 10: The Greatest Books of All Time - 2007 (Weight: 150)
- score: 150 -- Top 100 Works in World Literature - 2002 (Weight: 150)
- score: 150 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 150)
- score: 150 -- For The Love of Books - 1999 (Weight: 150)
- score: 144 -- Top 100 World Literature Titles - 2017 (Weight: 138)
- score: 140 -- El Pais Favorite Books of 100 Spanish Authors - 2008 (Weight: 138)
- score: 138 -- Världsbiblioteket (The World Library) - 1991 (Weight: 138)
- score: 118 -- The 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century - 1999 (Weight: 114)
- score: 114 -- The Hundred Most Influential Books Since The War (WW2) - 1995 (Weight: 114)
- score: 110 -- Le Monde's 100 Books of the Century - 1999 (Weight: 105)
- score: 108 -- The New York Public Library's Books of the Century - 1996 (Weight: 108)
- score: 108 -- The Booklist Century: 100 Books, 100 Years - 2005 (Weight: 108)
- score: 108 -- ZEIT-Bibliothek der 100 Bücher - 2009 (Weight: 108)
- score: 102 -- The Bigger Read List - 2003 (Weight: 102)
- score: 102 -- What Harvard Professors Think Greatest Books Ever: Top 20 List (1977) - 1977 (Weight: 102)
- score: 99 -- The New Lifetime Reading Plan - 1999 (Weight: 99)
- score: 96 -- The Greatest Books of All Time - 2022 (Weight: 96)
- score: 96 -- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers - 2024 (Weight: 96)
- score: 96 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 96)
- score: 96 -- 100 Most Influential Books of the Century - 2000 (Weight: 96)
- score: 95 -- 100 Essential Books - 2009 (Weight: 93)
- score: 91 -- Harvard Book Store Staff's Favorite 100 Books - 2011 (Weight: 90)
- score: 90 -- 100 Best Novels, in Translation, Since 1900 - 2014 (Weight: 87)
- score: 90 -- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime - 2014 (Weight: 90)
- score: 90 -- Best Books Ever - 2006 (Weight: 90)
- score: 90 -- Select 100 - 2015 (Weight: 90)
- score: 84 -- 50 Books to Read Before You Die - 2012 (Weight: 81)
- score: 82 -- The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time - 2004 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- The Best Classics - 2006 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- The Book of Great Books: A Guide to 100 World Classics - 2001 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- The Graphic Canon - 2012 (Weight: 81)
- score: 80 -- Waterstone's Books of the Century - 1997 (Weight: 78)
- score: 78 -- The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users - 2008 (Weight: 78)
- score: 75 -- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon - 1994 (Weight: 75)
- score: 69 -- The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read - 2009 (Weight: 69)
- score: 69 -- The College Board: 101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers - 2002 (Weight: 69)
- score: 69 -- The Books You've Always Meant to Read - 2020 (Weight: 69)
- score: 66 -- The Complete 500: OCLC - 2024 (Weight: 66)
- score: 66 -- 50 Best Cult Books - 2016 (Weight: 66)
- score: 57 -- 50 Books to Read Before You Die - 2015 (Weight: 57)
- score: 57 -- The 100 Best Books in the World - 2021 (Weight: 57)