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Summary
The essential companion to Simone de Beauvoir's celebrated novel.
This unique collection examines the various contradictions of freedom in Simone de Beauvoir's The Mandarins, the tumultuous epic about the personal and political lives of post–World War II French intellectuals. Fifty years after its publication, Beauvoir's book transcends the narrow confines of time and place to speak powerfully to audiences today. Contributors address political turmoil, collective responsibility, individual choice and commitment, love relationships, subjectivity, art, and freedom. With an extensive introduction that explores the historical period surrounding France after World War II, Beauvoir's own account of the novel's creation, and the initial reception of the novel around the world, this book is an essential companion to Beauvoir's celebrated novel.
“…a valuable addition to Beauvoir scholarship…” — APA Newsletter on Feminism and Philosophy
"This exciting and important text, with its impressive group of contributors, is vital to Beauvoir scholarship since it challenges philosophers to integrate a discussion of Beauvoir's literary works into the traditional discussion of her ethics and feminist philosophy. It makes an invaluable contribution." — Margaret A. Simons, editor of Simone de Beauvoir's Philosophical Writings
"The collection strikes a perfect balance between analyzing the novel on its own terms and relating it to 'real life' political and cultural issues, as well as to Beauvoir's nonfiction and the work of Sartre, Husserl, Hegel, and Foucault. It's a must read for Beauvoir scholars, as well as for the broader community of philosophers who work on existentialism, feminist philosophy, and the relationship of philosophy and literature." — Shannon Sullivan, author of Living Across and Through Skins: Transactional Bodies, Pragmatism, and Feminism
Contributors include Peg Brand, Thomas W. Busch, Eleanore Holveck, Sonia Kruks, William L. McBride, Jen McWeeny, Shannon M. Mussett, Sally J. Scholz, Ursula Tidd, Karen Vintges, and Gail Weiss.
Sally J. Scholz is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Villanova University and the author of On de Beauvoir. Shannon M. Mussett is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Utah Valley State College.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction Sally J. Scholz and Shannon M. Mussett
1. The Conflict of Ideologies in The Mandarins: Communism and
Democracy, Then and Now William L. McBride
2. Sustained Praxis: The Challenge of Solidarity in The Mandarins
and Beyond Sally J. Scholz
3. Living on Rails: Freedom, Constraint, and Political Judgment
in Beauvoir Sonia Kruks
4. Testimony, Historicité, and the Intellectual in Simone
de Beauvoir Ursula Tidd
5. The Return of Commitment: Simone de Beauvoir Karen Vintges
6. “Politics Is a Living Thing”: The Intellectual’s Dilemma in Beauvoir’s The Mandarins Gail Weiss
7. Personal Choice and the Seduction of the Absolute in The Mandarins Shannon M. Mussett
8. Love, Theory, and Politics: Critical Trinities in Simone de Beauvoir Jen McWeeny
9. Simone de Beauvoir on Achieving Subjectivity Thomas W. Busch
10. When a Woman Loves a Man: Ownness and Otherness in The Mandarins Eleanore Holveck
11. Salon-Haunters: The Impasse Facing French Intellectuals Peg Brand
