Contents

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. Acknowledgments ix
4. A Note on Translations and Abbreviations xiii
5. Introduction 1
6. 1. The Intimate Life of the Nation: Reading The Second Sex in 1949 24
7. 2. Beauvoir, Kinsey, and Midcentury Sex 51
8. 3. Readers and Writers 74
9. 4. The Algerian War and the Scandal of Torture 106
10. 5. Shame as Political Feeling 128
11. 6. Second Takes on The Second Sex 155
12. 7. Couple Troubles 177
13. 8. Sexual Politics and Feminism 203
14. Conclusion 237
15. Notes 253
16. Archival Sources 301
17. Index 303