Simone de Beauvoir's Milestones

Simone de Beauvoir was a French writer, philosopher, and feminist, best known for her influential work The Second Sex and her role as a key existentialist thinker of the 20th century.
1908

Birth

Simone de Beauvoir was born in Paris, France, to Georges Bertrand de Beauvoir and Françoise Brasseur.

Family January 9, 1908
1910

Sister Hélène born

Her sister Hélène de Beauvoir was born.

Family June 6, 1910
1913

Attended convent school

Sent to prestigious convent schools by her mother.

Education January 1, 1913
1919

Family loses fortune

Family lost much of its fortune after World War I, impacting their social status.

Other January 1, 1919
1922

Became atheist

Began questioning her faith and abandoned religion, remaining an atheist for life.

Other January 1, 1922
1925

Passed baccalaureate exams

Passed baccalaureate exams in mathematics and philosophy at age 17.

Education January 1, 1925

Attended Institut Catholique & Institut Sainte-Marie

Studied mathematics and literature/languages at Institut Catholique de Paris and Institut Sainte-Marie.

Education January 1, 1925
1926

Attended Sorbonne

Studied philosophy at the Sorbonne, graduating second in her class.

Education October 1, 1926 - July 1, 1929
1928

Sat in at École Normale Supérieure

Sat in on courses at École Normale Supérieure in preparation for agrégation in philosophy.

Education January 1, 1928
1929

Passed agrégation in philosophy

Passed the agrégation in philosophy, becoming the youngest person to do so at age 21.

Achievement January 1, 1929

Began teaching career

Began teaching philosophy at various lycées in France (Marseille, Rouen, Paris).

Career January 1, 1929

Met Jean-Paul Sartre

Met Jean-Paul Sartre, beginning a lifelong intellectual and romantic partnership.

Relationship October 1, 1929
1932

First relationship with Olga Kosakiewicz

Began complex personal and intellectual relationship with student Olga Kosakiewicz.

Relationship January 1, 1932
1943

Published 'She Came to Stay'

Published her first novel, 'She Came to Stay,' inspired by her relationship with Sartre and Olga.

Achievement January 1, 1943
1944

Published 'Pyrrhus and Cineas'

Published her first philosophical essay, 'Pyrrhus and Cineas.'

Achievement January 1, 1944
1945

Became editor of Les Temps Modernes

Became editor of the influential journal Les Temps Modernes with Sartre.

Career January 1, 1945

Published 'The Blood of Others'

Published 'The Blood of Others,' a novel exploring responsibility and resistance.

Achievement January 1, 1945
1946

Published 'All Men Are Mortal'

Published novel 'All Men Are Mortal.'

Achievement January 1, 1946
1947

Published 'The Ethics of Ambiguity'

Published 'The Ethics of Ambiguity,' a key existentialist essay.

Achievement January 1, 1947

Traveled to United States

Traveled to the United States, met American writer Nelson Algren, with whom she had a long relationship.

Other January 1, 1947

Traveled internationally

Traveled widely, lecturing and supporting feminist and existentialist causes.

Other January 1, 1947 - April 14, 1986
1948

Published 'America Day by Day'

Published travel diary 'America Day by Day.'

Achievement January 1, 1948
1949

Published 'The Second Sex'

Published 'The Second Sex,' a foundational text in feminist philosophy.

Achievement June 1, 1949
1952

Lived with Claude Lanzmann

Lived with filmmaker Claude Lanzmann.

Relationship January 1, 1952 - January 1, 1959
1954

Won Prix Goncourt for 'The Mandarins'

Won France's highest literary prize, the Prix Goncourt, for 'The Mandarins.'

Achievement January 1, 1954

Published 'The Mandarins'

Published 'The Mandarins,' a roman à clef about postwar intellectual life.

Achievement January 1, 1954
1958

Published 'Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter'

Published the first volume of her autobiography, 'Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter.'

Achievement January 1, 1958
1960

Published 'The Prime of Life'

Published second volume of autobiography, 'The Prime of Life.'

Achievement January 1, 1960
1963

Published 'Force of Circumstance'

Published third volume of autobiography, 'Force of Circumstance.'

Achievement January 1, 1963
1964

Published 'A Very Easy Death'

Published 'A Very Easy Death,' a memoir about her mother's death.

Achievement January 1, 1964
1970

Published 'The Coming of Age'

Published 'La Vieillesse' ('The Coming of Age'), a major work on aging.

Achievement January 1, 1970
1971

Signed Manifesto of the 343

Signed the Manifesto of the 343, advocating for abortion rights in France.

Achievement January 1, 1971
1972

Published 'All Said and Done'

Published 'All Said and Done,' final volume of autobiography.

Achievement January 1, 1972

Publicly declared herself a feminist

Publicly identified as a feminist after years of reluctance.

Other January 1, 1972
1975

Awarded Jerusalem Prize

Received the Jerusalem Prize for the Freedom of the Individual in Society.

Achievement January 1, 1975
1980

Death of Jean-Paul Sartre

Jean-Paul Sartre died; de Beauvoir was deeply affected.

Relationship April 15, 1980
1981

Published 'Adieux: A Farewell to Sartre'

Published 'Adieux: A Farewell to Sartre,' reflecting on Sartre's final years.

Achievement January 1, 1981
1986

Death

Simone de Beauvoir died in Paris and was buried next to Sartre.

Other April 14, 1986