All Men Are Mortal

Year 1995
Pages 406

Worth buying if: You’re drawn to existential novels by Beauvoir and Camus.

Skip it if: You want action-driven fantasy immortality with battles and magic.

Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9781860490026. The Amazon link uses this ISBN, so the product page should open to the edition shown here.

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Summary

In Simone de Beauvoir’s All Men Are Mortal, Raymond Fosca—cursed with immortality—recounts his centuries of history to Régine, a Parisian actress hungry for fame. His relentless memories expose the hollowness of glory and the weight of endless time.

Why this book now

Beauvoir’s existential take on immortality feels timely amid today’s longevity debates and fame-obsessed culture.

30-second preview

Two quick cards, fifteen seconds each.

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1-sentence hook

An immortal man upends an actress’s ambitions by revealing centuries of love, power, and emptiness.

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Best for readers who...

Good fit if you want...

  • You’re drawn to existential novels by Beauvoir and Camus.
  • Stories where an immortal narrates European history to a contemporary listener.

Maybe skip if...

  • You want action-driven fantasy immortality with battles and magic.
  • Long philosophical dialogues between Fosca and Regine test your patience.
  • You need the newest edition, freshest examples, or the most current framing.

Mood / Vibe Tags

existential melancholy philosophical historical sweep obsessive

Decided it fits?

Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9781860490026

Worth buying if: You’re drawn to existential novels by Beauvoir and Camus.

Skip it if: You want action-driven fantasy immortality with battles and magic.

Buy This Edition on Amazon

Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.

Reader guide

Cues to help you decide faster.

Reading commitment

Steady Needs some room

At 406 pages, this is a steady, reflective read that rewards unhurried stretches to absorb Fosca’s centuries and Regine’s thorny ambition.

What stands out here

This 1995 Virago Press edition offers Beauvoir’s novel in a solid 406-page reissue for readers seeking a durable, bookshelf-ready copy.

Best way to approach it

Read slowly and chronologically, letting Fosca’s historical episodes echo against Regine’s present-day hunger for acclaim.

Exact edition: ISBN-13 9781860490026

Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.