The Plague by Albert Camus (Penguin Classics)

“The Plague” (French: “La Peste”) is a novel written by the French-Algerian author and philosopher Albert Camus. It was first published in 1947 and is one of Camus’s most famous and significant works. The novel is often considered an existentialist classic and a reflection on the human condition.

Set in the fictional Algerian town of Oran, “The Plague” tells the story of a sudden outbreak of bubonic plague that isolates the town from the outside world. The narrative explores the social, psychological, and philosophical impact of the plague on the town’s residents. The characters in the novel represent a range of human responses to suffering, death, and isolation.

Camus uses the plague as an allegory for the absurdity of human existence and the human condition in the face of adversity and suffering. The novel delves into themes such as the meaning of life, the struggle to find purpose in a world marked by suffering, and the human capacity for solidarity and resilience.

“The Plague” is a profound and thought-provoking work that is often studied for its existentialist and philosophical themes. It has had a lasting impact on literature and philosophy and is considered one of the most important literary works of the 20th century. The novel continues to be widely read and discussed for its exploration of the human experience in the face of an irrational and indifferent world.