Make no mistake, this is heavy going. Jean-Paul Sartre was one of the foremost thinkers of the twentieth century, and his formidable mind is evident in the pages of this book.

The Age Of Reason tells the story of Mathieu Delarue, a philosophy professor who is trying to raise money to pay for an abortion for his girlfriend, Marcelle. That's about it as far as plot goes, this book isn't about a clever-clever story, more about plumbing the depths of the human mind.

This book should really carry some kind of health warning - if you have a history of depression, it's probably wise to steer clear, this is not a cheerful book. Every character portrayed in the book is neurotic to the extent of hatefulness, however it is very easy to recognise yourself in them. They deal with issues usually the reserve of philosophers - free will, the meaning of life, good and evil - but in a way in which everyday people come across them.

Mathieu himself constantly finds cause to despise himself. He has reached a kind of midlife crisis, and faces a dilemma. He can either enter a life dictated by tradition and expectations held by himself and the society in which he lives, that is to let Marcelle have the child and marry her - or reject what is 'right' and predictable and in so doing remain 'free'.

Or that's the impression I got. There is an awful lot of abstract argument in here, each character constantly torn inside over some moral quandary. Sartre handles this aspect of the writing brilliantly, after all it's the way he made his living. I think I would have got more from the book had I had the patience to read some sections more closely, or to read them more than once.

Sartre also manages the 'non-philosophical' aspects of the book very well. He paints a very clear picture of 1930's Paris, complete with communists, students, bars and cafes. He builds a sense of unease and tension between
characters very well, with plenty of awkward silences for reflection and introspection. If this were a comic strip, about ninety percent of the text would be in ‘thinks’ bubbles.

This is one of those 'books that cover everything', like Moby Dick or Ulysses. There is just SO much here about the decisions we have to make in life, and whether or not we can actually be said to make them ourselves. If only I’d discovered this when I was a dissolute, moody student. If you are a student, you really need to be seen reading this in public, and if you're not, read it in private with a bottle of antidepressants next to your chair.