The Stranger

Interesting Facts

• The protagonist of the novel, Meursault, is characterized by his emotional detachment and indifference to social norms and expectations.
• The novel begins with the famous line: «Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday, I don't know».
• The book is a vivid example of the philosophy of the absurd developed by Albert Camus.
• Meursault kills a man on the beach, which becomes a key event in the novel and leads to his arrest and trial.
• In court, Meursault is condemned not so much for the murder as for his indifference to his mother's death and lack of emotion.
• The novel raises questions about the meaning of life, free will, and human nature.
• Meursault refuses to lie and pretend, making him a «stranger» in society.
• The book was written during World War II and published in 1942.