In Search of Lost Time

Swann's Way is one of the preeminent novels of childhood-a sensitive boy's impressions of his family and neighbors, all brought dazzlingly back to life years later by the famous taste of a madeleine. It also enfolds the short novel Swann's Love, an incomparable study of sexual jealousy, which becomes a crucial part of the vast, unfolding structure of In Search of Lost Time. The first volume of the book that established Proust as one of the finest voices of the modern age-satirical, skeptical, confiding, and endlessly varied in his response to the human condition-Swann's Way also stands on its own as a perfect rendering of a life in art, of the past re-created through memory.

The novel is set in the fictional Massachusetts town of Durham shortly after World War I. The Pentland family is rich and part of the upper class, but their world is rapidly changing. The old Congregational church the Pentlands long favored has disbanded as more and more WASPs have left Durham, replaced by immigrant Roman Catholics with very different religious customs. The Pentlands once ruled upper-class society in Durham, and still do. But even upper-class society is changing: Many of the "old line" families have either died off or moved away, while many nouveaux riches have moved into the area who do not share the same old-fashioned values and observe the same old-fashioned norms of behavior that the Pentlands do. The patriarch of the family is old John Pentland. He lives in Pentland Manor, a large and old-fashioned manor house, with his sister, Cassie. Cassie is a fussy, moralistic, snobbish old maid who sticks her nose into everybody's business and who is firmly determined to see that the Pentlands uphold the "old ways." Her companion is Miss Peavey, who lacks intelligence but in all other ways is as moralistic and disapproving as Aunt Cassie. John's son and heir, Anson, married the wealthy but low-status Scotch-Irish girl Olivia. The couple have a son, John (nicknamed "Jack") and a daughter, Sybil. The Pentlands say that they can trace their family heritage back to the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and Anson is writing a book about the family. John Pentland's niece, Sabine, is the black sheep of the family. Her parents died, and her home was lost to creditors. She became Aunt Cassie's ward. But twenty years ago, she married a poor, low-born man named Callender and fled with him to Europe. John Pentland acts as if he is widowed, but about a quarter of the way through the novel the reader realizes that his wife is not dead. For the past two or three decades, Pentland's wife Agnes has been insane, and now lives in an upstairs room in a far wing of the house. She is cared for by a nurse, Miss Egan. Every morning, John Pentland visits her and speaks with her despite her insanity. Afterward, he visits Mrs. Soames, a long-time friend of his wife's, and plays cards. His attention to the widowed Mrs. Soames is unseemly (so Aunt Cassie says), but no one can openly criticize him for it as John Pentland is the patriarch of the family.

Both a psychological self-portrait and a profound meditation upon the artistic process, Proust's seven-part masterpiece In Search of Lost Time changed the course of 20th-century literature. Swann's Way, the first volume, introduces the novel's major themes and the narrator, a sensitive man drawn in his youth to fashionable society. Its focus then shifts to Charles Swann, a wealthy connoisseur who moves in high-society circles in nineteenth-century Paris and a victim of an agonizing romance. This masterly evocation of French society and its rendering of a search for a transcendental reality independent of time, ranks as a landmark of world literature. Unabridged reprint of the classic 1922 edition.

The celebrated first volume of the novel that "brilliantly explores the workings of time and memory against the backdrop of Belle Époque France" (The New Criterion). One the greatest novels of the twentieth century, In Search of Lost Times begins with Swann's Way, a young man's evocative journey of perception and remembrance.

The first volume of Proust's seven-part novel "In Search of Lost Time," also known as "A Remembrance of Things Past," "Swann's Way" is the auspicious beginning of Proust's most prominent work. A mature, unnamed man recalls the details of his commonplace, idyllic existence as a sensitive and intuitive boy in Combray. For a time, the story is narrated through his younger mind in beautiful, almost dream-like prose. In a subsequent section of the volume, the narrator tells of the excruciating romance of his country neighbor, Monsieur Swann. The narrator reverts to his childhood, where he begins a similarly hopeless infatuation with Swann's little daughter, Gilberte. Through a fragmented narrative, Proust examines the thematic importance of memory, time, and art that connect and interweave the protagonist's memories. Considered to be one of the twentieth century's most significant novels, Proust ultimately portrays the volatility of human life in this sweeping contemplation of reality and time. This edition follows the translation of C. K. Scott Moncrieff.

‘Within a Budding Grove’ (1919) is the second volume of Marcel Proust's seven-part novel In Search of Lost Time. Written while Proust was virtually confined to his bedroom from a lifelong respiratory illness, ‘Within a Budding Grove’ is a story of memory, history, family, and romance from a master of Modernist literature. Praised by Virginia Woolf, Vladimir Nabokov, Michael Chabon, and Graham Greene, In Search of Lost Time explores the nature of memory and time while illuminating the history of homosexuality in nineteenth century Europe. After years of admiring the Swann family from a distance, the narrator befriends the lovely young Gilberte. Through her, he gains access to her parents and their home, where artists and intellectuals gather to discuss their lofty ideals alongside the latest gossip. Despite his attraction to Gilberte, he finds himself enthralled with her mother, a careworn beauty so often ignored by her husband. As he grows and learns, he begins to recognize the reality concealed by convention: the secret liaisons between lovers, the petty competitions of artists, the fleeting nature of affection and lust alike. Written in flowing prose, ‘Within a Budding Grove’ is a masterpiece of twentieth century fiction that continues to entertain and astound over a century after it appeared in print.

In the second volume of the acclaimed novel, the narrator recalls his adolescent discoveries of art and women in Belle Époque France. Following the events of Swann's Way, the nameless narrator shifts his attention to memories of his teenage years. His relationship with the Swann family is altered as his love for Gilberte fizzles out. Two years later, he accompanies his grandmother to the resort town of Balbec on the Normandy coast. There, he encounters figures who will change his life: Robert de Saint-Loup, who becomes his friend; the magnificent painter Elstir; and the new object of his affection, the beautiful Albertine, who causes him to reflect on the nature of love. Although it was originally meant to be published in 1914, Within a BuddingGrove's release was delayed until 1919 due to World War I.

In the third volume of the celebrated novel, a writer comes into his own and learns the way of the world in Paris. Continuing the nameless narrator's voyage through his memories after Within a Budding Grove, The Guermantes Way finds him and his family entering Parisian high society. They have moved into a stately old town house owned by the Duke and Duchess de Guermantes in the Fauborg Saint-Germain district of Paris. Daily sightings of the duchess do nothing but fan the flames of the narrator's infatuation with her. So, of course, he falls in love once more. He also continues his journey as a writer, visiting aristocratic and literary salons where, beneath a thin veneer of manners, a battle for political, sexual, and social supremacy rages on... Originally published in two volumes in 1920 and 1921, The Guermantes Way explores the customs of Parisian society in Belle Époque France.

The Fugitive is the penultimate volume in Marcel Proust's monumental series In Search of Lost Time. The novel centers on the narrator's emotional turmoil following the departure and subsequent death of Albertine, the woman he both loved and imprisoned. Through his obsessive reflections on her absence, Proust explores the themes of memory, jealousy, the illusion of possession, and the complexity of human desire. This volume deepens the psychological portrait of the narrator, revealing the contradictions of love and the persistence of longing beyond physical presence. Proust examines how the mind reconstructs and reshapes reality in the face of grief, using memory not only as a tool for remembrance but also as a means of survival. The Fugitive has been celebrated for its introspective intensity and its nuanced exploration of loss and identity. It continues the series' profound meditation on time, art, and the inner life, offering readers a rich and intimate encounter with the fragility of human emotion and the power of recollection.

The Guermantes Way, the third volume of Marcel Proust's monumental work In Search of Lost Time, marks a shift from the narrator's personal and artistic awakening toward a deeper immersion in the world of aristocratic society. In this volume, the narrator becomes increasingly fascinated by the Guermantes family-symbols of elegance, tradition, and social prestige-and seeks access to their rarefied world. Through this exploration, Proust dissects the illusions of nobility, the performative nature of social interaction, and the fragility of memory and perception. Praised for its rich psychological insight and subtle irony, The Guermantes Way explores themes of social ambition, aesthetic sensibility, and the elusive nature of time. Proust's detailed observations reveal the contradictions of upper-class society, while also deepening the narrator's inner life and evolving understanding of love, loss, and identity. The volume's lasting significance lies in its ability to expose the intricate mechanics of human behavior and the shifting boundaries between personal desire and collective ideals. The Guermantes Way stands as a profound meditation on the illusions that shape society and the persistence of memory as a gateway to truth.

Sodom and Gomorrah by Marcel Proust is a profound meditation on desire, identity, and the hidden complexities of human relationships. As the fourth volume in In Search of Lost Time, it delves deeply into themes of homosexuality, social hypocrisy, and the masks individuals wear to conform to societal norms. Through the narrator's observations-particularly regarding Baron de Charlus and his secret life-Proust exposes the fragility of appearances and the emotional turbulence beneath the surface of elite society. Since its publication, Sodom and Gomorrah has been noted for its psychological acuity and its bold treatment of subjects rarely addressed openly in its time. Proust's intricate prose, long introspective passages, and exploration of memory and perception continue to challenge and reward readers. The novel advances the series' central questions about time, love, and self-knowledge, using subtle shifts in relationships and inner thoughts to chart the evolving consciousness of its narrator. The enduring relevance of Cities of the Plain lies in its unflinching portrayal of human vulnerability and the tension between public identity and private truth. As part of Proust's monumental work, it remains a landmark in modern literature, offering deep insight into the nature of desire and the forces-emotional, cultural, and temporal-that shape human lives.

In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower, the second volume of Marcel Proust's monumental work In Search of Lost Time, delves into the awakening of desire, the complexities of memory, and the shaping of identity through art, love, and social observation. This volume follows the unnamed narrator as he moves from childhood into adolescence, encountering a group of young girls on the Normandy coast and developing his first romantic fascinations, most notably with Albertine. Proust's narrative captures the fleeting beauty of youth and the bittersweet nature of longing, using impressionistic prose to mirror the workings of memory and perception. Through meticulous introspection and evocative detail, the novel examines how our experiences and relationships subtly alter our sense of self and the world around us. Praised for its lyrical depth and psychological acuity, In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower stands as a cornerstone of modernist literature. Its exploration of time, desire, and the elusive nature of reality continues to resonate with readers, offering profound insight into the emotional landscapes that shape human consciousness.

"Widely recognized as the major novel of the twentieth century," this French coming-of-age story in the tradition of philosophical fiction (Harold Bloom, literary critic). Sodom and Gomorrah is the fourth volume of Marcel Proust's masterpiece, In Search of Lost Time, and the last publication from the French literary classic that Proust was able to preside over before his death in 1922. Touching on homosexuality for the first time, Sodom and Gomorrah is also a penetrating, often comic portrayal of French high society as well as a metaphysical exploration of the nature of time, memory, art, love, and death. "Proust so titillates my own desire for expression that I can hardly set out the sentence. Oh if I could write like that!" -Virginia Woolf "The greatest fiction to date." -W. Somerset Maugham "Proust is the greatest novelist of the 20th century." -Graham Greene

The first volume of Proust's seven-part novel "In Search of Lost Time," also known as "A Remembrance of Things Past," "Swann's Way" is the auspicious beginning of Proust's most prominent work. A mature, unnamed man recalls the details of his commonplace, idyllic existence as a sensitive and intuitive boy in Combray. For a time, the story is narrated through his younger mind in beautiful, almost dream-like prose. In a subsequent section of the volume, the narrator tells of the excruciating romance of his country neighbor, Monsieur Swann. The narrator reverts to his childhood, where he begins a similarly hopeless infatuation with Swann's little daughter, Gilberte. More than this apparently fragmented narrative, however, is the importance of the themes of memory, time, and art that connect and interweave the man's memories. Considered to be one of the twentieth century's major novels, Proust ultimately portrays the volatility of human life in this sweeping contemplation of reality and time.

The Captive, the fifth volume of Marcel Proust's monumental work In Search of Lost Time, is a profound exploration of love, obsession, and the psychological intricacies of desire. The novel follows the narrator's relationship with Albertine, whom he keeps confined in his Paris apartment in a desperate attempt to possess and control her. Through this dynamic, Proust delves into the themes of jealousy, memory, and the illusions that shape emotional attachment. Published posthumously, The Captive is marked by its introspective depth and lyrical prose, continuing Proust's investigation into the workings of consciousness and the passage of time. The novel reflects the narrator's inner turmoil, as he oscillates between affection and suspicion, revealing how love can become entangled with fear and domination. The enduring significance of The Captive lies in its unflinching portrayal of the fragility of human relationships and the limitations of understanding another person's inner world. As part of Proust's larger masterpiece, it offers an intimate and haunting meditation on the nature of possession, loss, and the relentless search for meaning in love.

Time Regained, the final volume of Marcel Proust's monumental work In Search of Lost Time, serves as both a culmination and a revelation. In this last installment, Proust's narrator confronts the passage of time, the frailty of memory, and the possibility of artistic redemption. Through a return to familiar places and faces now transformed by age and war, he discovers that time, once perceived as a source of loss, can also be the wellspring of meaning and artistic creation. The novel deepens Proust's exploration of involuntary memory, most famously illustrated through sensory experiences that awaken buried impressions of the past. These moments reveal a hidden continuity beneath the apparent fragmentation of life. As the narrator comes to understand his vocation as a writer, Time Regained becomes a profound meditation on the role of art in transcending time and restoring coherence to lived experience. The enduring significance of Time Regained lies in its philosophical depth and literary innovation. It closes the narrative with the insight that true understanding is not found in escaping time but in embracing it - recognizing the patterns that link past, present, and future. In doing so, Proust affirms that through memory and art, the ephemeral can become eternal.

Swann's Way, the first volume of Marcel Proust's monumental work In Search of Lost Time, is a profound meditation on memory, time, and desire. Through richly detailed narration and introspective reflection, Proust introduces the narrator's recollections of childhood in Combray and recounts the story of Charles Swann's obsessive love for Odette de Crécy. The novel unfolds through involuntary memory-most famously triggered by the taste of a madeleine-revealing how past experiences shape identity and perception. Celebrated for its lyrical prose and psychological depth, Swann's Way has become a cornerstone of modernist literature. Proust's innovative narrative style, characterized by long, intricate sentences and a fluid treatment of time, revolutionized the novel form and influenced generations of writers. His ability to capture fleeting emotions and the subtleties of inner life makes the work both intellectually rich and emotionally resonant. The enduring significance of Swann's Way lies in its exploration of how memory and consciousness interact with the passage of time. By delving into the intricacies of human thought and the beauty of everyday moments, Proust offers readers a timeless reflection on love, art, and the persistence of the past in shaping the present.