The Plague

"The Plague" is both a wonderfully crafted masterpiece and a fable with timeless moral significance that is deeply pertinent to our times. It’s not exactly about the Covid-19 Pandemic itself - but more like about all types of pandemics in general. Still, all the lessons and key takeaways in the book can still be applied to our current Covid-19 quarantine, and that’s why many famous critics and news media (such as Vox and The New Yorker) have listed the book as among the best works about the Covid-19 Pandemic. Hence, we also decided to include it in our list.

In "The Plague", the author examines relationships, community, and life through the pandemic. Critics have interpreted The Plague" as a type of analogy for Germany's conquest of France; however, we believe it may equally be seen as a metaphor for humans' tendency for chaos and evil, despite their good intention.

While part of the elegance of the author's French prose is lost in English, readers can all understand his diversified and austere concepts. Also, we cannot help but notice that his characterization and imagery elicit many similarities to legendary authors as diverse as Hemingway and D.H. Lawrence.

Also, the author's unique thinking flow is evident in his brilliant writing. After all, he is a great yet reticent artist; hence, the man is not a bland thinker like many authors out there. Rather, he's a vivacious athlete and outspoken fighter, which reflects clearly in each of the sentences written in the chapters.

At the end of the book, this key message was successfully delivered: that your life is totally worth fighting and living for, regardless of the odds of triumph, the apparently overpowering forces of nature, or the outcomes.

Latest Release: 2021 (new edition)

Author: Albert Camus

Goodreads Score: 4.02/5