A highly readable dual biography, this is the first book to concentrate exclusively on the relationship between Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone De Beauvoir and draws on revelatory letters and diaries previously unseen, as well as on the tesimony of people who have not wanted to give interviews before. 20050217

Born in London and brought up partly in Australia (where she taught at Deakin University, Melbourne) Hazel Rowley is the author of two previous books of nonfiction: Christina Stead: A Biography and Richard Wright: The Life and Times. Her awards include Rockefeller and Radcliffe Fellowships, and the National Book Award from Australia. She divides her time between New York and Paris.