The MandarinsThe Mandarins
Score Classic
What it's about
Simone de Beauvoir's novel is an ironic tale of life and love among French intellectuals after the Second World War, as writers and activists argue over politics, communism and their own commitments, and fall in and out of love.
Why it's worth reading
It was one of the ten best-selling books of 1956 in the United States. It's a vivid portrait of postwar French intellectual life by the author of The Second Sex.
You'll love it if you liked
The Second Sex
The Stranger
The Unbearable Lightness of BeingGood to know
It's long and full of political debate. Its characters are thought to be based on real people.
By the numbers
- Readers72 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller33 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
More by Simone de Beauvoir
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Quick answers
Is The Mandarins worth reading?
Yes. It was one of the ten best-selling books of 1956 in the United States. It ranks #1,307 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 69.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Mandarins about?
Simone de Beauvoir's novel is an ironic tale of life and love among French intellectuals after the Second World War, as writers and activists argue over politics, communism and their own commitments, and fall in and out of love.
How long does it take to read The Mandarins?
About 19 hours (752 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Mandarins?
If you liked it, try The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir, The Stranger by Albert Camus or The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera.