| The Outsider (Penguin Modern Classics) |  | Author: Albert Camus
Creator: Joseph Laredo
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Category: Book
List Price: £8.99
Buy New: £3.34
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Seller: Kennys First Class
Rating:  66 reviews
Sales Rank: 1,526
Media: Paperback
Edition: New Ed
Pages: 128
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5 x 0.4
ISBN: 0141182504
Dewey Decimal Number: 843.912
UPC: 978014118250
EAN: 9780141182506
Publication Date: July 6, 2006
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Meursault leads a bachelor life until he commits a random act of violence. His lack of emotion and failure to show remorse serve to increase his guilt in the eyes of the law. This novel explores the predicament of the individual who refuses to pretend and is prepared to face the indifference of the universe, courageously and alone.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 66
 The Outsider June 23, 2010
flapdoodle dame (UK)
The Outsider is a comparatively short book but it is bursting with ideas. The plot follows Mensurault who lives a mundane life until he commits murder and is placed on trial, the outcome of which is influence by his emotional and intellectual honesty. The Outsider explores what happens when an individual does not conform to the norms of the society in which they are placed and how this drive to individualism can place the subject beyond the sympathy of their fellows. Camus' novel is far more accessible than its philosophical associations would suggest, it even has moments of humour, bleak humour it is true but humour nonetheless.
Slight Book, Slight Review January 29, 2010
col_p (Inverness, Scotland)
George Orwell's essay "Politics and the English Language" details the notion that tautology should be avoided when writing; i.e, don't use many words, when few would pack the same punch. This book adheres to this principle and is a life-changing piece of philosophy/literature. I won't go into any aspect of it, other than the fact that it is the most life-changing piece of writing i have experienced.
Existentialism concentrated and refined. Absolutely essential.
Interesting ideas and easy to read January 16, 2010
Phil O'Sofa (England)
For a novel that explores deep philosophical ideas about existentialism this is an enjoyable and easy read, written in a straightforward first-person style. There's not much one can say about the simple plot without spoiling it, but the point of the story is that the narrator, in responding to his true feelings rather than keeping to the conventional formalities that most people live by, finds himself cast out of society. The book highlights the absurdity of our lives. Highly recommended.
The tale of a man who refuses to lie November 10, 2009
Mr. Glenn Harris (Cornwall, England)
Albert Camus' The Outsider gets one thinking from the outset; it concerns one rather odd young man, who goes by the name of Meursault, who at the beginning of the novel receives a telegram from a retirement home to inform him that his mother has died. Meursault's reaction is one of dull indifference and yet our intuitive reaction to his reaction is bound to be wrong. Meursault is not an estranged son, in fact, if anything we sense that his relations to his mother were quite `normal' and that, in general, this man has the best intentions, so why this peculiar behaviour?
This man, Meursault, a man who seems oddly devoid of emotion and yet at the same time all too human, continues with this strange behaviour when he approaches his boss at work to ask for the time off to attend his mother's funeral and adds to his request the statement, `it's not my fault'.
Thus we embark on a very unusual and fascinating story of one man's journey towards authenticity, a journey that will lead to a murder, and ultimately, to a revelation.
Superb October 8, 2009
Alex Ireland
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Meursault is a strange detached emotionless sociopath. He feels no sorrow, no empathy, no remorse, no compunction, no compassion. Things that would break a normal person's heart have no effect on him. He also feels no need to lie. Ironically, it is this characteristic which sets him as the "Outsider". He could lie about he feels and pretend he cared about these events but he chooses not to. Although Meursault's character is extreme it highlights a facet of humanity in that everyone lies about how they feel sometime. We do this because we have a lie about how a fear of been castigated as an "outsider". Although our lies may be subtle and benign they are still lies. Meursault never feels a need to lie.
It's very easy to feel a very real and genuine disguist of Meursault. However, he's telling the truth. But because his character evokes so much antipathy that fact is easily lost. One would think that the truth always has an unquestional obvious virtue but Meursault shows truth can be easily overlooked. Hence what sort of virtue is it?
This is an exceptionally clever book.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 66
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