Work · Simone de Beauvoir
Wartime Diary
Entries from 1939–1941 record daily life, reading, expectations and relationships during the Phoney War and early Occupation.
Understanding the text
A contemporary document published posthumously, distinct from later reconstruction in the memoirs.
Key points
- 01
Present
Events remain uncertain before their historical outcome is known.
- 02
Writing
Recording daily life contributes to narrative development and intellectual positioning.
- 03
Comparison
Differences from The Prime of Life illuminate the work of memory.
How to read it
Read entries sequentially and distinguish editorial annotation from the diary's voice.
Editions & sources
- Consult the reference 1plato.stanford.edunew tab
- Consult the reference 2iep.utm.edunew tab
- Consult the reference 3gallimard.frnew tab
Summaries and key points are original editorial interpretations. They accompany reading the work and do not replace an edition of the text. Editorial method ↗