What is the best translation of The Stranger?

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Accepted Answer

For most readers, the Matthew Ward translation (1988) of The Stranger is the best place to start: Matthew Ward's 1988 translation is the American standard, and the one I'd start with — spare and flat in the right way, faithful to Camus's deadpan. It's the version that gave us 'Maman died today' instead of the older 'Mother died today,' a small change that resets the whole tone. This is where I'd start. For newest, consider Sandra Smith (2013). For the older one, consider Stuart Gilbert (1946).

Compare The Stranger translations