Simone de Beauvoir

About this book

In 1947, Simone de Beauvoir embarked on a U.S. lecture tour over the objections of a French establishment that hated existentialism but found a woman existentialist unbearable. Newly discovered writings from the time of the tour launch this sixth volume in the acclaimed Beauvoir series, showing a philosopher immersed in feminist ideas and building toward her 1949 classic The Second Sex. By turns surprising and revelatory, Feminist Writings presents recently uncovered works and lectures while providing new translations and contexts for Beauvoir's more familiar writings. Spanning Beauvoir's career from the 1940s through 1986, the pieces explain the paradoxes in her political and feminist stances, including her famous 1972 announcement of a "conversion to feminism" after decades of activism on behalf of women. They also document and contextualize Beauvoir's thinking, writing, public statements, and activities in the service of causes like French divorce law reform and the rights of women in the Iranian Revolution. In addition, the volume provides new insights into Beauvoir's complex thinking and illuminates her historic role in linking the movements for sexual freedom, sexual equality, homosexual rights, and women's rights in France. -- from dust jacket.