The Stranger.

THE STRANGER. Albert Camus. Tr. by Matthew Ward. 1942/2005. Read by Jonathan Davis. 3 tapes. 4.25 hrs. Recorded Books. 1-4193-4533-8. $29.75. Vinyl; plot notes. SA*

This classic of existential literature is read beautifully by Davis, who captures the quiet demeanor of Meursault, a young Algerian who shoots a man five times and can give no understandable explanation to the authorities for his actions to absolve himself from guilt.

Meursault finds himself the object of hatred and scorn in the public eye. Every previous action, like his behavior at his mother's funeral and his disinterest in defending himself, is the subject of discussion by the judge and the public, so that ultimately he is tried for his attitude more than his actions. While he seems to be cold-hearted and amoral, he is still able to observe and describe every detail of the world around him. His detachment and his treatment are absurd, as is most of life, the book seems to be saying. How do we find meaning in it? The discussion that follows the story by existentialism scholar Professor Martin Stone is excellent and will remind the thoughtful listener of the philosophical issues that made this novel a classic. Nola Theiss, Sanibel, FL