The Inseparables: The newly discovered novel from Simone de Beauvoir

The book is an easy reading. I read Simons memoire in which she mentioned Zaza, but this book gave me an insight into Zazas brilliant character and their deep bond.

This British version, unlike the American one by Sandra Smith (Inseparable) is awkwardly translated and stodgy to read.

This book was apparently written when Ms de Beauvoir was in her forties and she chose to not publish it. I think that she had the right idea. Simone de Beauvoir, a writer of near perfect literature, chose not to publish this quite infantile and childish book so as not to damage her reputation. The protagonist presents as very immature and petulant and at first I thought that she had written this as a very young woman - similar to Francoise Sagan's 'Bonjour Tristesse'. The fact that it was written by a mature woman makes me wonder if Ms de Beauvoir wrote this purely as a cathartic exercise to herself.