Product Description

When the beautiful, ambitious actress Regina takes Fosca into her life and learns his amazing truth, she is obsessed with the thought that in his memory her performances will live for ever. But, as he recounts the story of his existence over more than six centuries, as she learns of his involvement in some of the most significant events in history and how human hope and love have withered in him, she finally understands the implications for him and for love. ALL MEN ARE MORTAL was filmed in 1994, starring Irene Jacob, Marianne Sagebrecht and Stephen Rea.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #137324 in Books
• Published on: 2003-06-05
• Original language: French
• Binding: Paperback
• 406 pages

Review
'Probably de Beauvoir's strangest and most compelling novel' Ingrams 'A writer whose tears for her characters freeze as they drop' Sunday Times

About the Author
Simone de Beauvoir was a writer and philosopher. She is most famous for her landmark feminist text, The Second Sex, while her novel, The Mandarins, won France's highest literary honour: The Prix Goncourt.

Customer Reviews

A very thought provoking book, and also a damn fine read
I decided to read this book whilst going through a 'classics phase'. Having got into Tolstoy and Dostoevsky as part of my 'literary education' (begun whilst revising for an 'A'level special paper) - I thought I might as well give philosophy a go too.

I have to say I was plesantly surprised. The characterisation is fantastic, and I was completely drawn into Fosca's existence. I was fascinated by his history, and captivated by his experiences - almost without exception I felt in tune with Fosca's views and decisions on life.

I continued pondering the issues raised long after I had finished the book. This is the only book I have ever read which I have enjoyed as a fictional work in it's own right, but which has also had an impact upon my own understanding of the world around me, and my place within it. Sounds pompous I know - despite this the book is one damn fine read.

The curse of immortality
In All Men are Mortal Simone de Beauvoir captures the meaninglessness of human endeavour and sacrifice. Fosca (born in the thirteenth century) captures the interest of the narcissistic Regina (a twentieth century prima donna). Although Fosca is initially reluctant to engage, a relationship is developed, powered by Regina's domineering personality and obsessive craving for power over others. She lures Fosca into a love struggle that impels him to reveal the secret of his immortality and the history of his life spanning several centuries. Fosca describes his love for his native land and his pursuit of power and dominion over all humanity. The results are brutal and an awful indictment of the potential cruelty of humanity. His immortality (he considers a curse) is stained with the blood of countless lives, the rise and fall of empires and the vulgar exploitation of the disadvantaged by the powerful. And for what? Fosca realises: all for nothing. Interspersed in his tale are his loves (wives, sons and daughters, grandchildren, dear friends) all tarnished by the fact he will never die. Fosca is forever trapped in a cage, enclosed by the universe, ultimately to be isolated from all living creatures; his only companion a white mouse! Beauvoir's remarkable story displays her exquisite talent for historical observation and her understanding of the predictability of human behaviour. By doing so she emphasises our own destructive tendencies and the consequences of vanity. In due course Beauvoir portentously reminds us we all enter this short existence with a primal scream. Miraculous.