Forty years ago, Simone de Beauvoir, a great philosopher, writer, and major figure in Western and global feminism, passed away. Her works have been read and criticized by contemporary currents. To honor her, the publication of her Feminist Writings and Speeches, previously hard to access, is a step towards making her landmark work The Second Sex, published in 1949, a milestone in her evolving thoughts. Through this edition, we see her development, influenced by the women’s liberation movement of the 1970s, her correspondence, and interactions with different generations and positions of power.
Esther Demoulin introduced Beauvoir’s text edition in the Pléiade, while Marine Rouch worked on the philosopher’s correspondence. The article explores Beauvoir’s dynamic and evolving thinking, highlighting the importance of contextualizing her work and engaging critically with it, seeking a deeper understanding of her radical ideas and their relevance today.
Simone de Beauvoir, a participant in the Book Workshop show on RTF on 11/04/1949.
Simone de Beauvoir, featured in the show Simone de Beauvoir and Women’s Liberation on RTF on 19/04/1960.
Simone de Beauvoir, on Nuits magnétiques with Paula Jacques, France Culture, on 29/01/1979.
Musical references: – Olivia Dean, Be My Own Boyfriend – Chloé Thévenin, SloMo Part 3 – Henri Sauguet, La Chatte, ouverture – Prokofiev, Le Pas d’acier, opus 41
