Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 June 2026
The Introduction chapter provides an overview of the book’s content and approach. It explains the philosophical importance of Beauvoir’s varied output, including not only her essays but also her novels and memoirs. It presents the rigorous yet personal reading of Beauvoir’s works that characterises the book, as well as its focus on their relevance for reflecting on current issues. The Introduction also provides an overview of the reception of Beauvoir’s work and the prejudices that have obscured the philosophical importance of her writings, notably sexism and an unwarranted exclusion of her novels and memoirs from her philosophical output.
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