The Rebel (book)

The Rebel
Cover of the first edition
AuthorAlbert Camus
Original titleL'Homme révolté
TranslatorAnthony Bower
LanguageFrench
SubjectRebellion
Published1951
Publication placeFrance
Media typePrint
ISBN978-0679733843

The Rebel (French: L'Homme révolté) is a 1951 book-length essay by Albert Camus, which treats both the metaphysical and the historical development of rebellion and revolution in societies, especially Western Europe.

Examining both rebellion and revolt, which may be seen as the same phenomenon in personal and social frames, Camus examines several 'countercultural' figures and movements from the history of Western thought and art, noting the importance of each in the overall development of revolutionary thought and philosophy. He analyses the decreasing social importance of king, god and virtue and the development of nihilism. It can be seen as a sequel to The Myth of Sisyphus, where he ponders the meaning of life, because it answers the same question, but offers an alternative solution.