Danièle Sallenave's Critical Biography of Simone de Beauvoir Published by Gallimard

Danièle Sallenave's "Castor de guerre" (Gallimard) offers a fresh perspective on Simone de Beauvoir's life by analyzing her memoirs alongside her autobiographical and fictional writings, enriched with insights from those who knew her. The author uncovers Beauvoir's contradictions, her struggles, and the failures within her "pact" with Sartre, including deceit and emotional harm inflicted on her partners. The biography also critiques the political naivety of both Beauvoir and Sartre regarding totalitarianism and their treatment of friends like Camus and Koestler. Nevertheless, it celebrates Beauvoir's bravery in challenging societal norms and her advocacy for mistresses and anticolonial movements. This work serves as a tribute rather than a critique of Sartre and Beauvoir. The centenary of Beauvoir's birth has reignited interest, including a documentary by Dominique Gros.