Becoming Beauvoir A Life
Becoming Beauvoir A Life by Kate Kirkpatrick, published by Bloomsbury Academic on August 20, 2020, is a comprehensive biography that explores the life of Simone de Beauvoir, a pivotal figure in philosophy and feminism. This 496-page work delves into her unconventional relationships and the impact they had on her identity and intellectual contributions, particularly in relation to her renowned work, The Second Sex. The book highlights Beauvoir’s struggles with her self-perception and the challenges she faced in being recognized as an original thinker rather than merely an extension of Jean-Paul Sartre’s ideas.
Readers will find a detailed examination of Beauvoir’s life through the lens of newly uncovered diaries and letters, providing fresh insights into her philosophy and personal experiences. The biography addresses significant themes such as existentialism, feminism, and the complexities of her relationships, offering a nuanced portrayal of a woman who became a symbol of liberated womanhood. This edition is presented in English and invites readers to engage with the intricate narrative of Beauvoir’s journey toward self-discovery and intellectual independence.
Official synopsis Publisher
PROSE Award for Excellence in Biography and Autobiography Finalist 2020
“One is not born a woman, but becomes one”, Simone de Beauvoir
A symbol of liberated womanhood, Simone de Beauvoir’s unconventional relationships inspired and scandalised her generation. A philosopher, writer, and feminist icon, she won prestigious literary prizes and transformed the way we think about gender with The Second Sex. But despite her successes, she wondered if she had sold herself short.
Her liaison with Jean-Paul Sartre has been billed as one of the most legendary love affairs of the twentieth century. But for Beauvoir it came at a cost: for decades she was dismissed as an unoriginal thinker who ‘applied’ Sartre’s ideas. In recent years new material has come to light revealing the ingenuity of Beauvoir’s own philosophy and the importance of other lovers in her life.
This ground-breaking biography draws on never-before-published diaries and letters to tell the fascinating story of how Simone de Beauvoir became herself.
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