French Literature Reviews - 2026

Beauvoir / Bost, Cross-Correspondence
Writers: Biography, Letters and Memoirs

Simone de Beauvoir, Jacques-Laurent Bost,

Cross-Correspondence (1937–1940)

Gallimard, 2004, 982 p. , €35

Publisher's overview.

When this correspondence begins in 1937, Simone de Beauvoir—affectionately known as "the Castor" (Beaver)—is twenty-nine years old. She has been in a relationship with Sartre for eight years and lives with him; she has already written extensively, though she has yet to publish anything. Jacques-Laurent Bost is twenty-one, having come from Le Havre to study philosophy in Paris. At this point, they are still largely unknown figures, and Sartre’s fame is only in its infancy. Very quickly, their relationship evolves from warm friendship into a long-lasting love affair. Yet the private history that unfolds across these pages is deeply shadowed by the looming threat of war. These letters bear witness to all of this, while also reflecting Simone de Beauvoir and Jacques-Laurent Bost's deeply personal views on romance and jealousy. Intense and vivid, these letters immerse us in a genuine dialogue between two passionate, brilliant lovers at the dawn of their existential philosophy.

Published by Gallimard, this volume gathers letters exchanged between Simone de Beauvoir and Jacques-Laurent Bost during the years leading into the Second World War. The text documents the early stages of their personal relationship, evolving from friendship into a lasting romance against the backdrop of an impending European conflict. Through their daily exchanges, the correspondents record their private perspectives on affection, jealousy, and the turbulent social climate of late 1930s France. These documents capture both writers before they achieved widespread renown, providing insight into their lives as young intellectuals in Paris.

The letters situate readers within the early development of existential philosophy, reflecting the intellectual climate shared by Beauvoir, Bost, and Jean-Paul Sartre during the pre-war era. As historical and biographical records, such publications contribute to our understanding of the intimate networks surrounding the Parisian philosophical scene of the twentieth century. Readers interested in the personal correspondence and biographical contexts of major French literary figures may find this collection relevant to their study of the period.