Nausea

Jean-Paul Sartre's debut novel, "Nausea," serves as both a comprehensive essay on existentialist concepts and a deep fictional portrayal of a man's journey to reinstate meaning in his existence. This edition, part of the Penguin Modern Classics series, has been translated from French by Robert Baldick and features an introductory piece by James Wood. The narrative follows Antoine Roquentin, a reflective historian, and delves into one of modernity's most pivotal philosophical perspectives — existentialism. The novel captures his confrontation with the realization of absolute freedom in a seemingly meaningless world, in which he must carve out his own purpose and fully embrace the responsibilities of his choices. "Nausea" stands as a foundational piece in contemporary literary philosophy, vividly depicting the intense anxiety that can arise from the simple act of living.