Existentialism and Excess: The Life and Times of Jean-Paul Sartre

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Existentialism, Biography & Memoir
Cover of the book Existentialism and Excess: The Life and Times of Jean-Paul Sartre by Gary Cox, Bloomsbury Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Gary Cox ISBN: 9781474235358
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Publication: September 8, 2016
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic Language: English
Author: Gary Cox
ISBN: 9781474235358
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication: September 8, 2016
Imprint: Bloomsbury Academic
Language: English

Jean-Paul Sartre is an undisputed giant of twentieth-century philosophy. His intellectual writings popularizing existentialism combined with his creative and artistic flair have made him a legend of French thought. His tumultuous personal life - so inextricably bound up with his philosophical thinking - is a fascinating tale of love and lust, drug abuse, high profile fallings-out and political and cultural rebellion.

This substantial and meticulously researched biography is accessible, fast-paced, often amusing and at times deeply moving. Existentialism and Excess covers all the main events of Sartre's remarkable seventy-five-year life from his early years as a precocious brat devouring his grandfather's library, through his time as a brilliant student in Paris, his wilderness years as a provincial teacher-writer experimenting with mescaline, his World War II adventures as a POW and member of the resistance, his post-war politicization, his immense amphetamine fueled feats of writing productivity, his harem of women, his many travels and his final decline into blindness and old age.

Along the way there are countless intriguing anecdotes, some amusing, some tragic, some controversial: his loathing of crustaceans and his belief that he was being pursued by a giant lobster, his escape from a POW camp, the bombing of his apartment, his influence on the May 1968 uprising and his many love affairs. Cox deftly moves from these episodes to discussing his intellectual development, his famous feuds with Aron, Camus, and Merleau-Ponty, his encounters with other giant figures of his day: Roosevelt, Hemingway, Heidegger, John Huston, Mao, Castro, Che Guevara, Khrushchev and Tito, and, above all, his long, complex and creative relationship with Simone de Beauvoir.

Existentialism and Excess also gives serious consideration to Sartre's ideas and many philosophical works, novels, stories, plays and biographies, revealing their intimate connection with his personal life.

Cox has written an entertaining, thought-provoking and compulsive book, much like the man himself.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Jean-Paul Sartre is an undisputed giant of twentieth-century philosophy. His intellectual writings popularizing existentialism combined with his creative and artistic flair have made him a legend of French thought. His tumultuous personal life - so inextricably bound up with his philosophical thinking - is a fascinating tale of love and lust, drug abuse, high profile fallings-out and political and cultural rebellion.

This substantial and meticulously researched biography is accessible, fast-paced, often amusing and at times deeply moving. Existentialism and Excess covers all the main events of Sartre's remarkable seventy-five-year life from his early years as a precocious brat devouring his grandfather's library, through his time as a brilliant student in Paris, his wilderness years as a provincial teacher-writer experimenting with mescaline, his World War II adventures as a POW and member of the resistance, his post-war politicization, his immense amphetamine fueled feats of writing productivity, his harem of women, his many travels and his final decline into blindness and old age.

Along the way there are countless intriguing anecdotes, some amusing, some tragic, some controversial: his loathing of crustaceans and his belief that he was being pursued by a giant lobster, his escape from a POW camp, the bombing of his apartment, his influence on the May 1968 uprising and his many love affairs. Cox deftly moves from these episodes to discussing his intellectual development, his famous feuds with Aron, Camus, and Merleau-Ponty, his encounters with other giant figures of his day: Roosevelt, Hemingway, Heidegger, John Huston, Mao, Castro, Che Guevara, Khrushchev and Tito, and, above all, his long, complex and creative relationship with Simone de Beauvoir.

Existentialism and Excess also gives serious consideration to Sartre's ideas and many philosophical works, novels, stories, plays and biographies, revealing their intimate connection with his personal life.

Cox has written an entertaining, thought-provoking and compulsive book, much like the man himself.

More books from Bloomsbury Publishing

Cover of the book The Bloomsbury Companion to Existentialism by Gary Cox
Cover of the book The Crescent and the Eagle by Gary Cox
Cover of the book The Pirate King by Gary Cox
Cover of the book Representation of the British Suffrage Movement by Gary Cox
Cover of the book (Per)mutations of Qohelet by Gary Cox
Cover of the book The Gut Makeover by Gary Cox
Cover of the book The Marketing Handbook for Sports and Fitness Professionals by Gary Cox
Cover of the book The Handbook of Textile Culture by Gary Cox
Cover of the book Simester and Sullivan’s Criminal Law by Gary Cox
Cover of the book Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark by Gary Cox
Cover of the book Gender and Judging by Gary Cox
Cover of the book Homelands by Gary Cox
Cover of the book Someone Will Conquer Them by Gary Cox
Cover of the book Political Animals by Gary Cox
Cover of the book My European Family by Gary Cox
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy