Camus: The Stranger or The Myth of Sisyphus first?
People search: albert camus where to start, camus reading order, what camus to read first, the stranger albert camus which translation, is camus good for beginners
Reading order
The Stranger (The Outsider) · Albert Camus Most r/Camus replies say start here: short fiction, the absurd in action. Buy on Bookshop.org
The Myth of Sisyphus · Albert Camus The philosophy behind it. Dense, so expect to re-read paragraphs. Buy on Bookshop.org
The Fall · Albert Camus Very short; often recommended third. Buy on Bookshop.org
The Plague · Albert Camus Solidarity against the absurd; the most readable novel. Buy on Bookshop.org
The Rebel · Albert Camus Densest and most political; save it until last. Buy on Bookshop.org
Which translation / edition
Our pick: any modern Penguin translation. UK editions are often titled The Outsider (Sandra Smith, Penguin Modern Classics) and US ones The Stranger (Matthew Ward). Same book. Camus' works are still in copyright in the UK, so we don't quote them. Readers who know French recommend the original, partly for its use of the passé composé.
Where people get stuck
The minority who start with Sisyphus often say they got lost: 'had my head spinning'.
UK/US titles confuse buyers: The Outsider = The Stranger.
The Myth's last pages discuss Dostoevsky; reading Crime and Punishment first helps.
FAQ
Is Camus an existentialist?
He rejected the label; he called his position the absurd.