The Letter Form and the French Enlightenment (American University Studies Series): The Epistolary Paradox, Vol. 126 Book

This is about as accessible as a book on existentialism and Continental philosophy can be, without being trite or overly simplistic. It is equally a useful introduction to philosophy as whole for those not engaged in it as an academic discpline.

It escapes being a closely argued tract typical of philosophy books due to the clever way the authors have themselves taken on board the Beauvoir methodology they examine in the book - that of using literary form (as distinct from the philosophical essay) as a means of explicating existential philosophy. Specifically, by interrogating the narrative of the Beauvoir's life - especially her relationship with Sartre - and her output, they weave a compelling story about an important branch of philosophy that is not well addressed in the philosophy departments in the English-speaking world, where Analytical Philosophy holds sway.

With the narrative approach to the Sartre-Beauvoir life-long 'open' relationship as its starting point, the authors (husband and wife British academics, althoug the wife sadly died five years before the book's publication) succeed in holding the attention of a general reader who is neither particularly academic or well-versed in philosophy and its particular style of writing. Nevertheless, as the chapters progress, some very lucid and well structured tracts of philosophical argument unfold, backed up by excellent annotation and references.

The book gives an overview of the various schools that divide the discpline of philosophy, a taxonomy of Continental and Analytical Philosophy and a useful reading list. It can even be taken by philosophy students as a good primer on how to write a good essay! Each chapters starts with a description of what the writers set out to do, followed by a rundown of the arguments that will be deployed in the ensuing pages, and conclude with reference to the objectives identified at the start.

Neither will feminists be disappointed. Although the book wears Beauvoir's position as feminist icon lightly, the issue of her stature as a 'real' philosopher is, almost inevitably, bound up in the fact that she is a woman - but in ways that is far from 'feminist' alone.

This is definitely a good read.