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The Plague

By Albert Camus
Series: Penguin Modern Classics
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In The Plague by Albert Camus, the story unfolds in the Algerian city of Oran when a sudden outbreak of bubonic plague brings profound challenges. As the city faces quarantine, the narrative explores human reactions, morality, and the spirit of community in the shadow of epidemic uncertainty. Through its characters, it delves into themes of isolation, fear, and perseverance.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by philosophical questions and the human condition when faced with crisis. Delve into a gripping narrative that explores themes of resilience, solidarity, and the absurdity of life through a vivid and thought-provoking tale set during an epidemic. Perfect for readers who appreciate rich character studies and existential reflection.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

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. This title tells the story of bravery and determination against the precariousness of human existence.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

During the 1940s, a plague descends on the Algerian town of Oran. Like the German occupation of France in the Second World War, this plague too brings its terror while also inspiring a courageous resistance. But the plague is more than a parable. It is also a tale of natural calamity: a slaughter as absurd as the habits it supersedes. And it is this uniformity of the absurd, 'the same thing over and over again', that lies at the heart of Camus's conception of things.

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Plague by Albert Camus is widely regarded as a profound exploration of human resilience and solidarity in the face of adversity. Critics often praise its timeless themes of existentialism and absurdism, highlighting Camus's skilful narrative and philosophical depth. Readers appreciate how the novel’s allegorical treatment of a plague-stricken town mirrors human responses to collective crises, offering insights into society's values and morality.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141185132

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 December 2002

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by Robin Buss
  • Edited by Professor Tony Judt

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 199.0mm

Weight: 204g

Pages: 272

Collections

2025 Best Sellers Albert Camus Best Sellers at Book Hero Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Fiction General Fiction In Stock Books In-Stock Fiction Books Literary Fiction New Release Fiction New Zealand's Best Selling Books Penguin Books Penguin Classics Series: Penguin Modern Classics

About the Author

Albert Camus (Author) Albert Camus (1913-60) grew up in a working-class neighbourhood in Algiers. He studied philosophy at the University of Algiers, and became a journalist. His most important works include The Outsider, The Myth of Sisyphus, The Plague and The Fall. After the occupation of France by the Germans in 1941, Camus became one of the intellectual leaders of the Resistance movement. He was killed in a road accident, and his last unfinished novel, The First Man, appeared posthumously.

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