A dangerous relationship

They shared ideas, ideals, loves and lovers.

A Dangerous Liaison is a dual biography that tells the story of two of the greatest intellectual icons of the 20th century. Simone de Beauvoir and Jean-Paul Sartre developed an intense and painful relationship that lasted more than fifty years. The book is a portrait of their lives, from childhood to death, and an incisive reconstruction of their bond—in essence, their refusal to marry.

From the corridors of the Sorbonne to the cafes of the Left Bank, we discover how the talented Simone fell in love with the arrogant Jean-Paul. Carole Seymou-Jones describes their first summer together in 1929, the heated debates that lasted into the night, the sexual competition, the betrayals, the dangerous ideas that led people to experiment with new behaviors, and the deep love this unusual couple shared for each other.

A Dangerous Liaison is filled with unusual details, nefarious intrigues, encounters, betrayals, and libertine behavior. Drawing on meticulous research and tremendous historical understanding, the author captivates the reader with plots worthy of an intricate novel: the seduction of virgins, prostitutes, teenagers, and admirers.

Thanks to newly discovered letters from Beauvoir, we learn about the dark side of this philosophy of free love, including the fact that Simone seduced young women and shared them with Sartre. Seymour-Jones delves into another little-discussed episode in the lives of these thinkers, writing about how Jean-Paul Sartre fell into a Soviet trap, secretly committing himself to the Nazis.

A fascinating account of what lies behind the legend created by this brilliant duo.

“Packed with delicious details. The end result is breathtaking.” – The Guardian

“Extremely detailed, well-researched, and engaging.” – Booklist