Download or read book The Contradictions of Freedom written by Sally J. Scholz and published by State University of New York Press. This book was released on 2005-10-13 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This unique collection examines the various contradictions of freedom in Simone de Beauvoir's The Mandarins, the tumultuous epic about the personal and political lives of post–World War II French intellectuals. Fifty years after its publication, Beauvoir's book transcends the narrow confines of time and place to speak powerfully to audiences today. Contributors address political turmoil, collective responsibility, individual choice and commitment, love relationships, subjectivity, art, and freedom. With an extensive introduction that explores the historical period surrounding France after World War II, Beauvoir's own account of the novel's creation, and the initial reception of the novel around the world, this book is an essential companion to Beauvoir's celebrated novel.