Timeline: Jean-Paul Sartre

1905

It begins

Jean-Paul Sartre was born in Paris, France in 1905.

1912

Early Life

Sartre's father died when he was young, and had to live with his maternal grandfather, Carl Schweitzer. (Seen in the picture.)

Jun 28, 1914

WW1

This was happening during Sartre's early life

1924

Graduation

Sartre was graduating from La Rochelle's lycee and going to École Normale Supérieure, a prestigious school. (Lycee means a secondary school in France that the government funds)

1931

First Job

Sartre was a Professor of Philosophy at Le Harve. (A port city)

1936

First Novel

He wrote the book Imagination: A Psychological Critique during his teaching years.

1939

Great Depression

During this time the Great Depression was happening

Sep 1, 1939

WW2

After Sartre had taught for almost eight years, he was drafted into WW2 and survived.

1943

First Play

Sartre's first play was "Les Mouches" or "The Flies," about the Electra myth.

1943

Philosophy Structured Into Others

His book “L’Etre et le néant,” or “Being And Nothingness,” was the book that structured his philosophy into others.

1943

He's Racist?!

After he publicized "Being and Nothingness," he was believed to be racist. And once everyone found out he was in with Russia during the Hungarian Revolution people believed he was a racist communist and politician.

1945

A Big Hit

Sartre published a 4 volume series named "Les Chemins de la liberté" or "The Paths Of Freedom."

1945

Interest to Politics

After WW2, Sartre took an active interest in French political movements, and his leanings to the left became more pronounced.

1948

Another Boom

Sartre was a Philosopher, and one of his famous books, "Qu'est-ce que la littérature?" or "What is Literature?", was an instant "BOOM" of success.

1950

Korean war

During this time the Korean War was happening

1954

Civil Rights Movement

During this time, the Civil Rights Movement happened.

1954

Places visited

1954, he visited the Soviet Union, Scandinavia, Africa, the United States, and Cuba.

1956

Hungarian Revolution

This happened during Sartre's life, and he actively took part as a politician in the Soviet Union.

1956

Les Temps Modernes

Sartre wrote "Le Fantôme de Staline" or "The Ghost of Sta line" in the "Les Temps Modernes" or "The Modern Times" after the Soviet Union failed to "communize" Hungary.