The Outsider

1946

Special Collections PQ 2605 A3734 E8 A25 1946

London: Hamish Hamilton

This first edition English language translation of Albert Camus’ L’Étranger carries one of the best opening lines in the literary world: ‘Mother died today’ (‘Aujourd’hui, maman est morte’ in the original). It was first published in a run of 4,400 copies in 1942. Translator Stuart Gilbert called the book The Outsider, rather than the more common The Stranger. The French Algerian-born Camus (1913–1960) paints a sunny pessimism of man and his lot: ‘In our society any man who does not weep at his mother’s funeral runs the risk of being sentenced to death… I only meant that the hero of my book is condemned because he does not play the game.’ The year 2017 marks the 75th anniversary of the first printing of Camus’ work.