In 'The Plague,' Albert Camus narrates the harrowing tale of a city besieged by a deadly epidemic. As fear and despair grip the townsfolk, a diverse group of characters grapples with isolation, loss, and the meaning of existence. Through their struggles and moral dilemmas, the story explores themes of human resilience and the absurdity of life. Will they succumb to the chaos, or will they find hope amid the darkness? This gripping allegory invites readers to reflect on their own humanity in times of crisis.
By Albert Camus
Published: 2021
""The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.""
“We can finally read the work as Camus meant it to be read. Laura Marris’s new translation of The Plague is, quite simply, the translation we need to have.” —Los Angeles Review of Books The first new translation of The Plague to be published in the United States in more than seventy years, bringing the Nobel Prize winner's iconic novel to a new generation of readers. • "A redemptive book, one that wills the reader to believe, even in a time of despair." —The Washington Post The townspeople of Oran are in the grip of a deadly plague, which condemns its victims to a swift and horrifying death. Fear, isolation, and claustrophobia follow as they are forced into quarantine. Each person responds in their own way to the lethal disease: some resign themselves to fate, some seek blame, and a few, like Dr. Rieux, resist the terror. An immediate triumph when it was published in 1947, The Plague is in part an allegory of France's suffering under the Nazi occupation, as well as a timeless story of bravery and determination against the precariousness of human existence. In this fresh yet careful translation, award-winning translator Laura Marris breathes new life into Albert Camus's ever-resonant tale. Restoring the restrained lyricism of the original French text, and liberating it from the archaisms and assumptions of the previous English translation, Marris grants English readers the closest access we have ever had to the meaning and searing beauty of The Plague. This updated edition promises to add relevance and urgency to a classic novel of twentieth-century literature.
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“"The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion."”
The Plague
By Albert Camus
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Albert Camus (1913-1960) was a renowned French-Algerian philosopher, author, and journalist, best known for his contributions to the philosophy of absurdism. His notable works include 'The Stranger' (1942), a compelling exploration of existentialism and the absurdity of human existence; 'The Plague' (1947), which serves as an allegory for the human condition in the face of suffering; and 'The Myth of Sisyphus' (1942), where he articulates the philosophical foundation of absurdism. Camus’ writing style is characterized by clear prose, vivid imagery, and a focus on moral and existential dilemmas, often set against a backdrop of the Mediterranean landscape. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1957 for his significant literary contributions.
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