From the moment Sylvie and Andrée meet in their Parisian day school, they see in each other an accomplice with whom to confront the mysteries of girlhood. For the next ten years, the two are the closest of friends and confidantes as they explore life in a post-World War One France, and as Andrée becomes increasingly reckless and rebellious, edging closer to peril.
Sylvie, insightful and observant, sees a France of clashing ideals and religious hypocrisy—and at an early age is determined to form her own opinions. Andrée, a tempestuous dreamer, is inclined to melodrama and romance. Despite their different natures they rely on each other to safeguard their secrets while entering adulthood in a world that did not pay much attention to the wills and desires of young women.
Deemed too intimate to publish during Simone de Beauvoir’s life, Inseparable offers fresh insight into the groundbreaking feminist’s own coming-of-age; her transformative, tragic friendship with her childhood friend Zaza Lacoin; and how her youthful relationships shaped her philosophy. Sandra Smith’s vibrant translation of the novel will be long cherished by de Beauvoir devotees and first-time readers alike.
西蒙娜·德·波伏瓦 （Simone de Beauvoir，1908-1986），法国哲学家、作家、女性主义者。1945年和让-保罗·萨特等人共同创办《现代》杂志，致力于推介存在主义观点。1949年出版《第二性》，引起极大反响，成为女性主义的经典。1954年凭小说《名士风流》获龚古尔文学奖。她和汉娜·阿伦特、苏珊·桑塔格并称为西方女性学术的三个中心。