The Rebel
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Summary
Editor's review
The book's value lies in its intense contemporary concern and ethical tension. Camus does not simply oppose revolution; rather, he seeks to establish a "Mediterranean thought" measure for rebellion—a standard based on moderation, humanity, and sunlight. He distinguishes "metaphysical rebellion" from "historical rebellion," and ultimately links "rebellion" with "creation" and "love," advocating a constructive stance that contains affirmation within negation. For contemporary readers, in an age of confused values and resurgent extremism, rereading *The Rebel* helps us consider: how can true rebellion avoid becoming a mirror image of what it opposes? What moral bottom line should individuals hold in the torrent of history? The work is difficult and passionate, and its density of thought requires patience, but the questions it raises—about freedom, justice, and human dignity—remain resounding today.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers with a strong interest in twentieth-century intellectual history and political philosophy
- Advanced readers seeking a deeper understanding of Camus's thought beyond *The Stranger* and *The Myth of Sisyphus*
- Thinkers concerned with enduring questions of revolution, the ethics of violence, and historical responsibility
- Those seeking a code of action that is uncompromising yet retains humanistic radiance amid real-world predicaments
Not a good fit for
- Readers looking for light storytelling or fictional narrative (this is a purely philosophical treatise)
- Readers entirely unfamiliar with modern European history who are unwilling to do additional background reading
Reading tips
- It is recommended to first read Camus's *The Myth of Sisyphus* and *The Plague* to build a basic understanding of his philosophy of the absurd and moral concern.
- While reading, consult materials on modern European history, especially the French Revolution and twentieth-century totalitarianism, to better grasp the targets of his critique.
- The argument is dense; do not aim to digest it all at once. Read in sections, supplemented by relevant scholarship or introductions, to help clarify the intellectual threads.
About the publisher
Shanghai Translation Publishing House is a Chinese publisher oriented mainly toward translation and publishing. Its publications cover foreign literature, world classics and classic works, as well as social culture, folk literature and classical poetry. The database contains 2,618 titles, including Never Let Me Go, Les Misérables (2 volumes), Don Quixote (illustrated collector's edition), The Complete Comedies of Molière (4 volumes), The Complete Novels of Kafka (3 volumes), The Collected Works of Dostoevsky (9-volume set), Reason and Persons, and Oedipus Rex (Translation Classics). Its author resources include foreign writers such as Kazuo Ishiguro, Victor Hugo, Cervantes and Molière, as well as translators such as Zheng Kelu, Sun Jiameng, Li Jianwu and Zhang Kun. The publisher has brands such as "Translation Classics Selections" and "Translation Documentary," and emphasizes translated works in foreign literature and the humanities and social sciences, while also publishing bilingual dictionaries and foreign-language educational books. Public information is limited; the above is based on the book information in the database.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 译者题记《反抗者》至理名言摘抄
- 译者绪论 ——加缪荒诞存在价值观道德观和历史观
- 作者导言
- Ⅰ 反抗者
- Ⅱ 形而上悖逆
- 该隐的儿子们
- 绝对否定
- 一个文学家
- 浪荡公子造反 ——原名《魔王，路济弗尔与浪荡公子》
- 拒绝拯救
- 绝对肯定
- 独善其身者
- 尼采与虚无主义
- 造反的诗歌
- 洛特雷阿蒙与平庸
- 超现实主义与革命
- 虚无主义与历史
- Ⅲ 历史性造反
- 弑君者们
- 新福音书
- 处死国王
- 德行的宗教
- 恐怖时代
- 弑神灭教
- 个体恐怖主义
- 摒弃德行
- 三个着魔者
- 厚德的凶手
- 什加列夫主义
- 国家恐怖主义与非理性恐怖
- 国家恐怖主义与理性恐怖
- 资产阶级的预言
- 革命的预言
- 预言的失败
- 终极目的之王国
- 全体性与审讯
- 造反与革命
- Ⅳ 悖逆与艺术
- 小说与悖逆
- 悖逆与风格
- 创造与革命
- Ⅴ 地中海思想
- 造反与谋杀
- 虚无主义谋杀
- 历史性谋杀
- 限度与过度
- 地中海思想
- 超越虚无主义
- 补编
- 评说反抗 ——《存在》（1945）
- 凶手的时代 （1949）
- 为《反抗者》辩护 （1952年11月）
- 点评《为〈反抗者〉辩护》
- 寄语《现代》主编 ——一九五二年六月三十日于巴黎
FAQ
What is the core argument of *The Rebel*?
How does this book differ from Sartre's existentialism?
Why was *The Rebel* so controversial at the time?
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About the author
Albert Camus (1913–1960) was a French novelist, essayist, playwright and philosopher. Born in Mondovi, French Algeria, he died in a car accident in 1960. His work spans fiction, essays and drama, with major titles including The Stranger, The Plague, The Myth of Sisyphus and The Rebel; he received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1957. Camus's writing often explores human choice and revolt in the face of the absurd, combining literary power with philosophical reflection. This site holds 77 of his works, covering categories such as foreign literature, classic works, Western philosophy and world classics.
Shen Zhiming — public information about this author is limited; his dates of birth and death, nationality, education and professional positions are not clearly documented. Judging from the fifteen works held in the library, however, he has long been engaged in translating French literature and philosophy. His representative translations include Camus's The Plague, The Rebel, The Fall, The Stranger, The Myth of Sisyphus and Exile and the Kingdom, as well as Proust's Swann's Way. These works belong mainly to classic literature and philosophical reading, and also touch on foreign literature, literary appreciation, essays and miscellaneous writings, and social fiction. His translations, addressed to Chinese readers, carry Camus's absurdist thought and Proust's long narrative, offering readable texts for the Chinese-speaking world's understanding of twentieth-century French literature and exerting a certain influence in translation and introduction.
