42 pages • 1 hour read
Simone de BeauvoirA Very Easy Death
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1964A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
In A Very Easy Death, Simone de Beauvoir recounts her experience of caring for her mother, Françoise, during the final six weeks of her life as she battles terminal cancer. Diagnosed following a fall, Françoise's true condition is kept from her, leading Beauvoir to grapple with ethical dilemmas and reflect on their strained relationship. Beauvoir provides a detailed, compassionate account of her mother’s death, interwoven with existential analysis and reevaluation. This book includes references to terminal illness, death, and bereavement.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Simone de Beauvoir's A Very Easy Death is lauded for its poignant and unflinchingly honest exploration of her mother's final days. Critics praise its emotional depth and introspective narrative. However, some find the prose occasionally overwrought. Overall, it is a powerful meditation on mortality and familial bonds, resonating deeply with readers.
Who Should Read A Very Easy Death?
Readers who appreciate poignant, introspective memoirs about familial relationships and end-of-life experiences will find Simone de Beauvoir's A Very Easy Death compelling. Comparable to Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking, it offers profound reflections on grief, love, and mortality. Suitable for fans of deeply personal, existential literature.