The Stranger
by Albert Camus
The Stranger (L'Étranger) is Albert Camus's first novel, published by Gallimard in Paris in 1942. Stuart Gilbert's English translation appeared in 1946 as The Outsider from Hamish Hamilton in London. It follows Meursault, a detached man in French Algeria who kills a man on a beach.
- Editions tracked
- 2
- First edition
- Gallimard, 1942
- First published
- Gallimard, Paris, 1942
- First UK edition
- Hamish Hamilton, 1946
- Worth
- Not yet valued
- Series
- The strange writer
Which edition do you have?
First edition
Later and other editions
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
More by Albert Camus
Questions about The Stranger
No questions yet. Not sure which edition you have, or whether a detail matters? Ask, and collectors will help.
Reviews of The Stranger
No reviews yet. Members can say what this book is like to read or collect.
Read it or own it? Share what The Stranger is like to read or collect.
Know what you are looking at
How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Who published the first edition of The Stranger?
The first edition of The Stranger by Albert Camus was published in Paris by Gallimard in 1942.
How many editions of The Stranger are there?
We track 2 editions of The Stranger, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
How can I tell if my copy of The Stranger is a first edition?
Check the title page and its reverse (the copyright page) against the edition: publisher, place and date should match, with no later printing or edition stated. Where we know the issue points, they are listed on the edition's page.
Where these facts come from
- The Stranger (Camus novel), Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- The Stranger (Q163297), Wikidata (wikidata.org)
- Camus, The Outsider, Jonkers Rare Books (jonkers.co.uk)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 17 October 2026.