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Becoming Beauvoir
- A Life
- Narrated by: Rachel Atkins
- Length: 14 hrs and 59 mins
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Becoming Beauvoir
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Summary
'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.
Critic reviews
"While she advocates for de Beauvoir, contesting various criticisms, she allows complexity...Meticulously and engagingly, Kirkpatrick catches myriad 'instants' of the flux behind the icon." (Felicity Plunkett)
"Kirkpatrick has trawled fastidiously through her commentaries, diaries and, significantly, the interviews she gave towards the end of her life. The result is a rich rediscovery of this inspirational feminist, philosopher and existentialist. It will spark a whole new love affair since such politically aware feminists remain thin on the ground – and more needed than ever." (Samela Harris)
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- Suke
- 29-05-23
Fantastic work
A real uncovering. Kirkpatrick dissects the celebrity image of Beauvoir and describes the forces on her life and the way that Beauvoir tried to take control herself. Fascinating and well written.
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