Both Stuart Gilbert and Matthew Ward deserve recognition for their translations. Translation is an especially fickle task. The nature of the novel is up to the translator to interpret and even the best cannot perfectly replicate the original author's intentions. However, I believe that Ward's translation argueably has more literary value.
Unlike Gilbert, Ward appears to replicate Camus' style of staccato sentences. Most sentences are fairly short. Commas appear frequently and keep most phrases sounding like fragments of thought. Gilbert seems to add "fluff" into his sentences, which makes the novel less harsh sounding. Ward, on the other hand, keeps his translations fairly spartan in descriptive language. Also, Ward seems to stick to active voice, while Ward almost solely writes in passive. The first makes Meursault sound confrontational, while the second makes him sound passive. I believe that Ward's commitment to replicate Camus as close as he can gives us more insight into what themes and ideas Camus is trying to portray in the novel.
As for the title, I would choose to translate L'Etranger to The Foreigner. I believe this title is the best because Meusault is literally and figuratively a foreigner in his world. Literally, Meursualt is foreign because he is French, but he lives in Algeria. Figuratively, his is a foreigner in his society because he doesn't appear normal because of his lack of emotion.
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