The PlagueThe Plague
Score Classic
What it's about
Albert Camus's 1947 novel follows a plague sweeping the Algerian city of Oran. Doctors, visitors and fugitives each respond to the epidemic in their own way.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It's a classic that asks big questions about destiny and the human condition.
You'll love it if you liked
The Stranger
Blindness
The Myth of SisyphusGood to know
It's quiet and reflective rather than suspenseful. It's a translation from French.
By the numbers
- Readers54 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller34 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #158 of the 333 science fiction books we rank
- #526 of the 924 classics we rank
- #1657 of the 3,057 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Dark
More by Albert Camus
If you like this, read next
The Lord of the Rings
Foundation
Ficciones
Rendezvous with Rama
The Left Hand of Darkness
The Gods ThemselvesExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Plague worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Guardian's list of 1,000 novels everyone must read. It ranks #1,657 of the 3,057 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 67.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Plague about?
Albert Camus's 1947 novel follows a plague sweeping the Algerian city of Oran. Doctors, visitors and fugitives each respond to the epidemic in their own way.
How long does it take to read The Plague?
About 7 hours (296 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Plague?
If you liked it, try The Stranger by Albert Camus, Blindness by José Saramago or The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus.