This book is a good mix of biography and literary criticism. In a mere 142 pages, one gets to understand the influences on Sartre and the significance of each of his works.

The only problem that I have is that the biographical details are perhaps given too much of the centre stage. Much is made of his early life and the relationship between his parents and grandparents. Whilst these are, of course, important to Sartre, as they are to everyone else, the implication that he became an author because of these relationships, is a little too glib.

Worth a read and I know much more about Sartre the man than before. ( )

What a useful thing Biographical Introductions are in understanding Philosphers (attempting too). ( )