Simone Adolphine Weil was a French philosopher, mystic, and political activist. Since 1995, more than 2,500 scholarly works have been published about her, including close analyses and readings of her work.
Weil with her father
Weil at age 13. The photograph was taken during a family holiday to Belgium, where she was laughing with her brother André.
Leon Trotsky, for whom Weil arranged a period of residence at her parents' apartment in December 1933 while he was in Paris for secret meetings. She had argued against Trotsky both in print and in person, suggesting that élite communist bureaucrats could be just as oppressive as the worst capitalists. Weil was one of the rare few who appeared to hold her own with the Red Army founder in a face-to-face debate.
The Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Assisi where Simone had one of three spiritual "encounters that really counted," leading to her conversion to Christianity
École normale supérieure (Paris)
The École normale supérieure – PSL is a grande école in Paris, France. It is one of the constituent members of Paris Sciences et Lettres University (PSL). Due to its special historical role, large endowment, and influence within French society, the ENS is generally considered the most prestigious of the grandes écoles. Its pupils are generally referred to as normaliens, while its alumni are generally referred to as archicubes.
École normale supérieure (Paris)
Entrance of the historic building of the ENS, at 45, rue d'Ulm. The inscriptions on the pediment of the monumental doorway display the school's two dates of creation (the first, 9 brumaire an III (30 October 1794), in the oculus, under the National Convention, the second, 17 March 1808), and the date of dedication of this building, 24 April 1841.
The main entrance to the ENS on Rue d'Ulm. The school moved into its current premises in 1847.
The quadrangle at the main ENS building on rue d'Ulm is known as the Cour aux Ernests – the Ernests being the goldfish in the pond.
