The Plague by Albert Camus

The Plague by Albert Camus is a philosophical novel set in Oran, French Algeria. It is a story about an epidemic in North Africa that starts when thousands of rats come into the city and die, creating mass hysteria. The plague is deadly and is essentially an allegory of the French's suffering under the Nazis. The main character, Dr. Bernard Rieux, is the man who treats the first victim and he is the man that tries to pacify the hysteria and epidemic.

This story is very relevant to current times, seeing as the epidemic in the story is extremely similar to the pandemic we are undergoing right now. The story has to do with an epidemic and deals heavily with philosophical questions about the human condition, destiny, and the totality of being a human being. Camus does an excellent job with weaving the struggles of being human with his fictitious stories. I highly recommend this book for fans of philosophical and reasoned novels! If you want a book that makes you think far after you finish it, this truly is the book for you and if you end up enjoying it, definitely check out the rest of Camus' works.

Reviewed by M.S., Grade 11

Montrose Library