That was shocking at the time the book was written. The murderer was supposed to be an Other, not someone you can relate to. The book was shocking because it ma

That was shocking at the time the book was written. The murderer was supposed to be an Other, not someone you can relate to. The book was shocking because it made the reader feel the murderer's dilemmas. See his rationales, such as they were. I have the impression that the book has kept a part of its old reputation, even as the world has changed and it would never get that reputation in today's world.