Cover of La Peste by Albert Camus

Information about the book

author: Albert Camus
title: La Peste
pages: 568

Notes and thoughts

Messy but longer notes here .

  • A dark and heavy book.
  • It is an extension of L’Étranger ; set in a similar world. Camus even mentions the events of l’Étranger in La Peste.
  • Written just after WWII there are obvious parallels between the citizens of Oran and the Jewish people in Europe.
  • In his city he paints different ways to face adversity through his characters. Some try to flee, others face it head on, others explain it, etc.
  • At the core, Camus explores the ideas of absurdism. Shows us in the book that the world has no meaning but that we can bring meaning to it ourselves. Reminds me of Sisyphus traversing the absurd with a smile.