Simone de Beauvoir
Simone de Beauvoir was born on January 9, 1908. She died seventy-eight years later. During her lifetime, she was recognized as a leading figure for women's rights, as well as an eminent writer. In 1954, she won the Prix Goncourt for her novel The Mandarins. In addition to her literary accomplishments, she was also known for her lifelong friendship with Jean Paul Sartre.
Les Mandarins
The Book of the Mandarins follows a group of intellectuals from the end of World War II to the mid-1950s. The title is a reference to the scholar-bureaucrats of imperial China. The novel is an attempt to define the role of intellectuals in the post-World War II world. Other themes addressed in the novel include existentialism, feminism, and personal morality.
The Mandarins is one of Simone de Beauvoir's best known works. It depicts life in post-World War II Parisian intellectual society, and includes philosophical arguments and romantic stories. In addition, the novel deals with social change, the dismantling of resistance to Nazi occupation, and the nature of intellectual life.
Tous les Hommes sont Mortels
Simone de Beauvoir's novel, All Men Are Mortal, was first published in 1955 by The World Publishing Company. In 1995, it was adapted into a film of the same name. It is a compelling read that examines the nature of death and the meaning of life.
This novel is dedicated to Sartre and explores the meaning of human life and how much its value depends on the condition of mortality. Fosca, the protagonist of the novel, understands that while he can't live in his own time, he can live a committed life to a cause. He engages his freedom in a cause, creating value, and dying validates that commitment. Immortals, on the other hand, cannot experience the joy and anguish of life.
Quand Prime le Spirituel (When Things of the Spirit Come First)
When Things of the Spirit Come First, Simone de Beauvoir's first work of fiction, is a collection of five short stories. The structure of the book is similar to that of a traditional novel. This collection focuses on the relationship between the spirit and the human being.
The book was not published immediately after it was completed. De Beauvoir sent it to publishers such as Grasset and Gallimard, but they rejected it. The book remained unpublished for many years. This rare literary first edition is one of only 35 copies printed in 1937 on Dutch paper, and it is in its original wrappers.
Sylvie le Bon de Beauvoir
Although Simone de Beauvoir's marriage to Zaza was not legal, it was nonetheless a queer act of resistance against a bio-heteronormative family. Moreover, her heterodox use of adoption blurred the lines between family and sexuality. The sexual profundity of her relationship with Le Bon was rendered palatable through her characterization of her adoption as marriage. But how can one capture the complex interrelationship between two such different people?
Their friendship began in the 1960s when Simone was a high school student. She wrote to De Beauvoir, asking for a meeting. When she moved to Paris, she invited her to her flat in the 14th arrondissement. Both girls were initially intimidated by the older author, but they soon became friends. Their friendship shaped their conceptions of philosophy and their feminist struggle.
