The Mandarins Summary

10 questions on the plot and the characters. Each answer comes with a short explanation.

Take it one question at a time

1. Question 1

   Which prestigious French literary prize did 'The Mandarins' win?

   1. Prix Femina
   2. Prix Renaudot
   3. Prix Goncourt
   4. Grand Prix du Roman de l'Académie française
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   C. Prix Goncourt As stated in the book jacket, 'The Mandarins' is a winner of France's prestigious Prix Goncourt.

2. Question 2

   At the beginning of the novel, what significant historical event has just concluded, allowing the characters to plan their future?

   1. The end of World War I
   2. The end of the German occupation of Paris
   3. The liberation of France from Vichy rule
   4. The fall of the Third Republic
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   B. The end of the German occupation of Paris The book jacket specifies that the characters gather 'to celebrate the end of the German occupation and to plan their future.'

3. Question 3

   Which character is described as an 'ex-Resistance fighter' eager to resume his life?

   1. Robert
   2. Henri
   3. Lewis
   4. Jean
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   B. Henri The book jacket explicitly identifies Henri as the 'Ex-Resistance fighter' who is 'eager to resume his life'.

4. Question 4

   The novel is described as both an 'epic romance' and what other significant literary form?

   1. A political satire
   2. A historical chronicle
   3. A philosophical manifesto
   4. A psychological thriller
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   C. A philosophical manifesto The book jacket categorizes 'The Mandarins' as 'An epic romance and a philosophical manifesto'.

5. Question 5

   Which real-life intellectual giants are mentioned in the book jacket as having 'wickedly accurate portraits' within the novel?

   1. Foucault and Derrida
   2. Sartre and Camus
   3. Merleau-Ponty and Lévi-Strauss
   4. Gide and Malraux
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   B. Sartre and Camus The book jacket explicitly states the novel is 'punctuated by wickedly accurate portraits of Sartre, Camus and other intellectual giants of the time.'

6. Question 6

   Robert, one of the central characters, is determined to pursue what specific ambition after the war?

   1. To write a great novel
   2. To enter politics
   3. To establish a new philosophical journal
   4. To rebuild his pre-war business empire
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   B. To enter politics The book jacket states: 'Robert is determined to enter politics'.

7. Question 7

   Anne, Robert's wife, is a psychiatrist. What personal distraction is she experiencing that is mentioned in the summary?

   1. A professional crisis at her clinic
   2. A philosophical debate with a colleague
   3. An affair
   4. A deep depression brought on by the war
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   C. An affair The book jacket states that Anne, Robert's psychiatrist wife, 'is distracted by an affair'.

8. Question 8

   Given the description of the novel as a 'philosophical manifesto' and its author, Simone de Beauvoir, what central philosophical theme is most likely to be explored in 'The Mandarins'?

   1. The nature of divine grace and predestination
   2. The absurdity of existence and the search for meaning in a post-war world
   3. The inherent goodness of humanity and the perfectibility of society
   4. The logical structure of language and its impact on thought
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   B. The absurdity of existence and the search for meaning in a post-war world Simone de Beauvoir was a prominent existentialist philosopher. Given the context of post-war Paris and the mention of Sartre and Camus (also existentialists), the novel would likely delve into themes of existentialism, focusing on the search for meaning, freedom, responsibility, and the absurdity of existence in a world grappling with the aftermath of profound conflict.

9. Question 9

   The book jacket describes Henri's lover, Paula, as wanting to 'revive their affair'. What does this imply about their relationship at the beginning of the novel?

   1. They are in a new relationship, just starting after the war.
   2. Their affair had been interrupted or was dormant during the war.
   3. Paula is pursuing Henri, who is uninterested in rekindling anything.
   4. They are in a committed, long-term relationship that Paula wishes to deepen.
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   B. Their affair had been interrupted or was dormant during the war. The word 'revive' implies that the affair existed previously but had ceased or significantly diminished, and Paula wishes to bring it back to life, likely due to the disruptions of wartime.

10. Question 10

    Considering the historical context of post-WWII Paris and the intellectual figures portrayed, what kind of 'future' are the characters most likely planning, beyond personal relationships?

    1. Strictly economic ventures and personal wealth accumulation.
    2. A return to pre-war social norms and political structures.
    3. Reconstruction of French society, intellectual movements, and political ideologies.
    4. Escaping France for more stable countries to avoid further conflict.
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    C. Reconstruction of French society, intellectual movements, and political ideologies. Given the setting (post-occupation Paris), the characters (ex-Resistance, aspiring politician, intellectuals like Sartre and Camus), and the description as a 'philosophical manifesto,' the 'future' they plan would inevitably involve the intellectual, social, and political reconstruction of France and the grappling with new ideas in the aftermath of a devastating war.