But if nothing is done to stop the spread, it too could catch the populist fever in the next presidential election, four years and a few months from now. France looks like an exception, for now at least. Germany saw the resurgence of a far-right party - the AFD - while Austria, Hungary, and Poland agreed to illiberal demands (the Poles have seen the separation of powers, the independence of the judiciary and freedom of expression recede). Italian voters punished the parties of the center-right and center-left. The Brexit shook up the British elite severely. For us here in France, rereading Albert Camus's pivotal work in light of the growing appeal, in the West, of populist thinking, offers some useful and unexpected insights. That's because it's one of those rare works that are human and supple enough to be appropriated by anyone who reads it.
The Stranger, first published in 1942, is still the second most-read French book in the world after Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince. There's also the question of how well the work stands the test of time-its universal plasticity-and its ability not only to put readers in touch with human truths but to inspire them to interpret their own reality via personal experiences the author knew nothing about.
PARIS - Popularity isn't the only indicator of a book's power.
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