A revelatory new biography of Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre.
A Dangerous Liaison tells the intense, passionate and sometime... read full description
A Dangerous Liaison tells the intense, passionate and sometime... read full description
reviews
Sep 05, 2010
Pat
rated it: 
"What did you do in the war, Sartre?"
Two years ago when I was in hospital I reread de Beauvoir's "Prime of Life" and it occurred to me that she and Sartre had rather an easy war. Now Carole Seymour-Jones, in this double biography, explodes the myth that the couple were prominent in the Resistance and we learn that they did very little indeed. It was Albert Camus who put himself in danger by publishing clandestinely, while Sartre and de Beauvoir attended only one More...
Two years ago when I was in hospital I reread de Beauvoir's "Prime of Life" and it occurred to me that she and Sartre had rather an easy war. Now Carole Seymour-Jones, in this double biography, explodes the myth that the couple were prominent in the Resistance and we learn that they did very little indeed. It was Albert Camus who put himself in danger by publishing clandestinely, while Sartre and de Beauvoir attended only one More...
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Dec 08, 2009
Tyler
rated it: 
A Dangerous Liason is full of conjecture and censure, though seemingly so in the name of a purer history. This biography of confluence draws from interviews, private letters, and both published and unfinished works by the literary and political icons Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. The book looks at their thought (phenomenology, existentialism, feminism, Hegel) and their lives in love, a love of revolutionary intellectuals who agreed against marriage in favor of a more open, often libe
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Feb 18, 2011
KOMET
rated it:
Though the book started off a bit slow for me, once the lives of Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre became intertwined at the time of their introduction in 1929 (when both were students at the École Normale Supérieure), I could hardly tear myself away. I set myself to reading 2 chapters a day.
I was surprised to discover how apolitical the 2 were during the 1930s. Both were then firmly set on establishing careers for themselves and having sexual relationships with impressionabl More...
I was surprised to discover how apolitical the 2 were during the 1930s. Both were then firmly set on establishing careers for themselves and having sexual relationships with impressionabl More...
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(1 person liked it)
Nov 15, 2009
William
rated it: 
Although I have always enjoyed reading their literary and philosophical writings -- I even admire some -- I have never admired the characters of Sartre and de Beauvoir. This biography is, indeed, revelatory, and it will not win over any new fans for this controversial couple. It may be best to learn to appreciate Sartre and de Beauvoir first through their work before delving into their often hypocritical, sordid, and sad lives.
Jun 08, 2010
Anoush
rated it: 
While I enjoyed reading about the lives and the work of Sarter and De Beauvoir, this book is just badly written. The analysis is sometimes superficial, the timeline incoherent, and the language often descends into Cold War propaganda a la tabloid style - which is at first amusing, but quickly becomes rather tiring.
Oct 17, 2009
Jodi
rated it: 
I found this book to be more author conjecture and guesswork than an actual biography. Got about half way through before I gave up. Disapointing that a book about two such fascinating people could be so dull.
Aug 03, 2009
Lindz
rated it:
I am afraid I could not finish this one, which is very very rare. It usually takes the whole book for me to decide if I like it.
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