Parisian lives : Samuel Beckett, Simone de Beauvoir, and me : a memoir

One of The New York Times's 13 Books to Watch For in November A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year National Book Award-winning biographer Deirdre Bair explores her fifteen remarkable years in Paris with Samuel Beckett and Simone de Beauvoir, painting intimate new portraits of two literary giants and revealing secrets of the biographical art. In 1971 Deirdre Bair was a journalist and a recently minted Ph.D. who managed to secure access to Nobel Prize-winning author Samuel Beckett. He agreed that she could be his biographer despite her never having written a biography before. The next seven years of probing conversations, intercontinental research, singular encounters with Beckett's friends, and peculiar cat-and-mouse games resulted in Samuel Beckett: A Biography, which went on to win the National Book Award and propel Bair to her next subject: Simone de Beauvoir. Where Beckett had been retiring and elusive, Beauvoir was domineering and all encompassing. Plus, there was a catch: Beauvoir and Beckett despised each other--and lived in the same neighborhood. Bair, who resorted to dodging one subject or the other by hiding out in the great cafés of Paris, learned that what works in terms of process for one biography rarely applies to the next. Her seven-year relationship with the forceful and difficult Beauvoir required a radical change in approach and yielded another groundbreaking literary profile while also awakening Bair to an era of burgeoning feminist consciousness. Drawing on Bair's extensive notes from the period, including never-before-told anecdotes and details considered impossible to publish at the time, Parisian Lives gives us an entirely new perspective on the all-too-human side of these legendary thinkers. It is also a warmly personal reflection on the writing life--its compromises, its joys, and its rewards. National Book Award-winning Biographer Deirdre Bair Explores Her Fifteen Remarkable Years In Paris With Samuel Beckett And Simone De Beauvoir, Painting Intimate New Portraits Of Two Literary Giants And Revealing Secrets Of The Biographical Art. In 1971 Deirdre Bair Was A Journalist And Recently Minted Ph.d. Who Managed To Secure Access To Nobel Prize-winning Author Samuel Beckett. He Agreed That She Could Write His Biography Despite Never Having Written--or Even Read--a Biography Herself. The Next Seven Years Of Intimate Conversations, Intercontinental Research, And Peculiar Cat-and-mouse Games Resulted In Samuel Beckett: A Biography, Which Went On To Win The National Book Award And Propel Deirdre To Her Next Subject: Simone De Beauvoir. The Catch? De Beauvoir And Beckett Despised Each Other--and Lived Essentially On The Same Street. While Quite Literally Dodging One Subject Or The Other, And Sometimes Hiding Out In The Backrooms Of The Great Cafes Of Paris, Bair Learned That What Works In Terms Of Process For One Biography Rarely Applies To The Next. Her Seven-year Relationship With The Domineering And Difficult De Beauvoir Required A Radical Change In Approach, Yielding Another Groundbreaking Literary Profile. Drawing On Bair's Extensive Notes From The Period, Including Never-before-told Anecdotes And Details That Were Considered Impossible To Publish At The Time, Parisian Lives Is Full Of Personality And Warmth And Give Us An Entirely New Window On The All-too-human Side Of These Legendary Thinkers-- A Memoir Of The Author's Experience Writing Biographies Of Samuel Beckett And Simone De Beauvoir-- Deirdre Bair. A PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year National Book Award-winning biographer Deirdre Bair explores her fifteen remarkable years in Paris with Samuel Beckett and Simone de Beauvoir, painting intimate new portraits of two literary giants and revealing secrets of the biographical art. In 1971 Deirdre Bair was a journalist and recently minted Ph.D. who managed to secure access to Nobel Prize-winning author Samuel Beckett. He agreed that she could be his biographer despite her never having written—or even read—a biography before. The next seven years comprised of intimate conversations, intercontinental research, and peculiar cat-and-mouse games. Battling an elusive Beckett and a string of jealous, misogynistic male writers, Bair persevered. She wrote Samuel Beckett: A Biography, which went on to win the National Book Award and propel Deirdre to her next subject: Simone de Beauvoir. The catch? De Beauvoir and Beckett despised each other—and lived essentially on the same street. Bair learned that what works in terms of process for one biography rarely applies to the next. Her seven-year relationship with the domineering and difficult de Beauvoir required a radical change in approach, yielding another groundbreaking literary profile and influencing Bair’s own feminist beliefs. Parisian Lives draws on Bair’s extensive notes from the period, including never-before-told anecdotes. This gripping memoir is full of personality and warmth and gives us an entirely new window on the all-too-human side of these legendary thinkers. "National Book Award-winning biographer Deirdre Bair explores her fifteen remarkable years in Paris with Samuel Beckett and Simone de Beauvoir, painting intimate new portraits of two literary giants and revealing secrets of the biographical art. In 1971 Deirdre Bair was a journalist and recently minted Ph.D. who managed to secure access to Nobel Prize-winning author Samuel Beckett. He agreed that she could write his biography despite never having written--or even read--a biography herself. The next seven years of intimate conversations, intercontinental research, and peculiar cat-and-mouse games resulted in Samuel Beckett: A Biography, which went on to win the National Book Award and propel Deirdre to her next subject: Simone de Beauvoir. The catch? De Beauvoir and Beckett despised each other--and lived essentially on the same street. While quite literally dodging one subject or the other, and sometimes hiding out in the backrooms of the great cafes of Paris, Bair learned that what works in terms of process for one biography rarely applies to the next. Her seven-year relationship with the domineering and difficult de Beauvoir required a radical change in approach, yielding another groundbreaking literary profile. Drawing on Bair's extensive notes from the period, including never-before-told anecdotes and details that were considered impossible to publish at the time, Parisian Lives is full of personality and warmth and give us an entirely new window on the all-too-human side of these legendary thinkers"-- Provided by publisher "A memoir of the author's experience writing biographies of Samuel Beckett and Simone de Beauvoir"-- Provided by publisher "A memoir of the author's experience writing biographies of Samuel Beckett ans Simone de Beauvoir"-- Provided by publisher