At once a crisp and eminently readable introduction to Sartre's thought and works and an exploration of Sartre's most sustained act of "engagement", that of writing, this is a valuable slim addition to the "two-and-a-half metres" of Sartre studies that Leak describes having on his bookshelf. French Studies Writing a short biographical introduction to Sartre is no easy feat, and ... Read moreit would be difficult to top this author's effort ... Andrew Leak's virtue is to have succinctly encapsulated Sartre's personality and core convictions from the midst of the heap left by the Sartrean writing machine. He is sensitive to the intellect in his context, how he responded in his writing, and how scholars have commented subsequently. As such, this is a wonderful addition to the compelling series "Critical Lives." The Historian Show Less