Becoming Beauvoir by Kate Kirkpatrick Summary

Becoming Beauvoir: A Life explores Simone de Beauvoir’s journey from a convent-educated girl to a pioneering feminist philosopher. Drawing on unpublished diaries and letters, Kate Kirkpatrick challenges myths about her relationship with Jean-Paul Sartre, revealing Beauvoir’s intellectual independence and ethical struggles. The biography highlights her contributions to existentialism, feminist theory, and her controversial personal choices, including partnerships that impacted others.

This book appeals to readers interested in feminist history, existentialist philosophy, or biographical accounts of iconic intellectuals. Academics studying gender theory, philosophy students exploring Beauvoir’s ethics, and general audiences curious about her complex relationship with Sartre will find it insightful.

Yes. Awarded accolades by The Guardian and The Telegraph, Kirkpatrick’s biography reshapes perceptions of Beauvoir’s legacy. It offers fresh perspectives on her politics, atheism, and feminist philosophy while addressing critiques of her ethical decisions in relationships.

Kirkpatrick dispels the myth of Beauvoir as Sartre’s subordinate, showcasing her as an equal collaborator who influenced existentialist thought. The book details their intellectual exchanges and “essential love” pact while critiquing how their open relationship harmed others.

The biography draws on Beauvoir’s private diaries, letters to lovers like Nelson Algren, and Sylvie Le Bon-Beauvoir’s archives. These reveal her struggles with identity, sexuality, and societal expectations, providing new insights into The Second Sex.

Kirkpatrick emphasizes Beauvoir’s activism beyond feminism, including her anti-fascist writings during WWII and advocacy for Algerian independence. The book critiques her late recognition of class oppression but highlights her lifelong fight for social justice.

The biography scrutinizes her participation in Sartre’s exploitative relationships with younger women, which Kirkpatrick argues conflicted with Beauvoir’s feminist ideals. It also questions her initial reluctance to embrace the “feminist” label despite writing The Second Sex.

Kirkpatrick traces Beauvoir’s evolution from existentialist philosopher to feminist icon, linking her personal experiences to themes in The Second Sex. The book highlights Beauvoir’s argument that “one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman” and its impact on gender studies.

Unlike earlier works, Kirkpatrick prioritizes Beauvoir’s voice over Sartre’s, using newly accessible archives to challenge stereotypes. It balances her intellectual achievements with critiques of her personal ethics, offering a nuanced portrait.

The book underscores Beauvoir’s relevance today, particularly her ideas on autonomy, intersectionality, and systemic oppression. Kirkpatrick argues that Beauvoir’s emphasis on “becoming” inspires contemporary movements advocating for gender equity and self-determination.

It portrays Beauvoir and Sartre’s relationship as a collaboration of equals who critiqued each other’s work. However, Kirkpatrick warns against romanticizing their bond, noting how their emotional detachment harmed others.

Critics debate Kirkpatrick’s focus on Beauvoir’s ethical flaws, such as her manipulation of students. Others praise the biography for humanizing an icon and revealing how her choices shaped both her philosophy and personal struggles.