ABSTRACT
Simone de Beauvoir was born in 1908 and is a novelist, philosopher and essayist. Le Deuxième Sexe, 1949, a study of women and Les Mandarins, (a novel), 1954, are some of her best work. Her autobiography has been translated into English (three volumes so far). This extract is taken from the fìrst volume. (Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter, The Prime of Life, Force of Circumstances).
