The Life of Simone de Beauvoir

Simone de Beauvoir spent her life fighting myths, prejudices and habits. One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman is the sentence that made her famous. But Beauvoir herself has become a myth: an icon of feminism, a model of the modern, emancipated woman, the queen of existentialism, a self-confident partner at the side of Jean-Paul Sartre. Yet she did not want to romanticise anything about her life. According to her conviction that one must not hide anything, must reveal everything, she did not shy away from showing disappointments and the darker sides of her personality. Simone de Beauvoir wanted everything from life, luxury and renunciation, constancy and change. She believed that we humans must hold on to hopes and promises that are ultimately unfulfillable. Alois Prinz recounts her life caught between the desire for happiness and fidelity and a reality that allows no escape.

»[It] is revealed how many of the debates that are virulent today – racism, colonialism, gender politics, cancel culture – have permeated this extraordinary life.« Harry Nutt, Berliner Zeitung

»Alois Prinz specialises in memoirs ... He does so sensitively and respectfully, avoiding clichés and searching for the truth.« Emma

»With every page, the reader delves deeper into the life of [the] provocative author ...« Alexandra Wach, Deutschlandfunk

»In his book, Alois Prinz introduces [de Beauvoir] in an entertaining yet expert manner and thus provides valuable assistance in rediscovering this author.« Ö1

»Prinz succeeds in mixing anecdotal information about the intellectual with her philosophical development both delicately as well as convincingly and not uncritically, so that even younger or less knowledgeable readers experience a pleasurable benefit from reading and are encouraged to read more.« Renée Zucker, Inforadio rbb on Hannah Arendt oder Die Liebe zur Welt