Paris: c.1955-1958.
First Edition. Signed Simone De Beauvoir and Gisèle Freund. 1. Rare Two page original handwritten Manuscript edited drafts. The writing seems to refer to her award winning book The Mandarins (Les Mandarins in French) since one notes DUBREUILH” mentioned throughout and reference to “SRL” of which “Dubreuilh” was the founder in this story.
It is one of Beauvoir’s most celebrated works, earning her the prestigious Prix Goncourt. (given to the author for the best and most imaginative prose work of the year).Considered to be a “Roman à clef” (a novel with a key), a work of fiction based on real life events and people. This novel is often regarded as a semi-autobiographical depiction of the post-World War II intellectual and political climate in France, focusing on the lives of left-wing intellectuals.
The novel follows two central characters: ANNE DUBREUILH, a psychiatrist who is deeply introspective and whose internal struggles mirror those of Beauvoir, and ROBERT DUBREUILH, her partner, who is involved in politics and reflects the intellectual life of Jean-Paul Sartre, Beauvoir’s real-life partner.
The characters wrestle with moral dilemmas, personal relationships, and political commitment in a rapidly changing post-war society.
The title “Mandarins” refers to a class of intellectual elites, who grapple with their role in shaping political and social futures. The novel explores themes of existentialism, political engagement, love, freedom, and betrayal, set against the backdrop of the Cold War and France’s post-war reconstruction.
- This iconic photograph shows Simone de Beauvoir sitting in her office. It was part of a series of photos taken by Freund at her desk. This silver gelatine print is signed by the artist on the bottom left front and studio-stamped on the back. Stamped in ink, verso center: PLEASE CREDIT / Gisèle FREUND / 12, RUE LALANDE / PARIS-XIVe / SEG: 77-49
Some of the other subjects photographed by Freund were Virginia Woolf, Colette, André Gide, James Joyce, Adrienne Monnier, Jean Cocteau, Jean-Paul Sartre, André Malraux & Vita Sackville-West.
Frame size: 22″ x 16″
Photo size: 6 x 9.25″
Manuscript page size: 8.25″ x 10.5″
Back to back images.
