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The Plague is a novel that depicts the strengths and weaknesses of the human spirit in the face of a huge crisis. It is also considered as an allegory of the German occupation of France during the Second World War. Summary Of The Book It is the 1940s. In the city of Oran in Algeria, rats begin to die in huge numbers. The cause of this mass death is a mystery that intrigues some people. Then, the concierge of a building where Dr. Bernard Rieux lives, dies suddenly. Dr. Rieux consults with a colleague, Dr. Castel, and they warn the city authorities of the possibilities of a plague. But, they are dismissed as only a single death has occured. However, when more deaths occur, the authorities are forced to take measures, and the city is quarantined. Many people are cut off from loved ones who are outside the city limits, including Dr. Rieux. One man, Raymond Rambert, wants to leave town to visit his wife. He enlists the help of some shady characters to effect his escape. But Rambert changes his mind and decides to stand by Rieux, Castel and others as they try to help the distressed plague victims. As the epidemic worsens, the people endure mental as well as physical suffering. Bodies are cremated en masse, with little ceremony. A priest uses this situation to try and persuade people to return the church, saying the epidemic is a punishment for their sins. The Plague is ultimately a story about people and their different reactions to a dire situation. It is about the human spirit and its ability to endure difficulties. It is also considered an exposition of the philosophical concept of the Absurd, which stresses the futility of humans trying to find a meaning to anything that happens in life. About Albert Camus Albert Camus was a French author, philosopher and journalist. His other works include The Stranger, A Happy Death, The Fall, and The First Man. Albert Camus was born in Algeria in 1913. He studied at the University of Algiers, and was the goalkeeper of the University's football team. During the Second World War, he joined the French Resistance cell in Algeria and served as the editor of the organization's newspaper. He is classed among the existentialist writers. He died in a car crash in 1960. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957.