What is special about Proust?

Marcel Proust was an early 20th-century French writer responsible for what is officially the longest novel in the world: À la recherche du temps perdu – which has 1,267,069 words in it; double those in War and Peace.

What did Proust believe?

Proust was raised in his father’s Catholic faith. He was baptized (on 5 August 1871, at the church of Saint-Louis d’Antin) and later confirmed as a Catholic, but he never formally practised that faith. He later became an atheist and was something of a mystic.

Is Proust readable?

I always tell anyone who might be intimidated by the many pages to be read that, although In Search of Lost Time is rich and complex and demands an attentive reader, the novel is never difficult. In spite of its length and complexity, most readers find it readily accessible.

Was Proust depressed?

Psychological traits of his personality (severe anxiety and depression) may have played a central role in the onset of insomnia. Further factors such as asthma and intake of stimulating substances may have had an important role in the maintenance and worsening of his insomnia.

What is the best English translation of Proust?

Scott Moncrieff’s English translation of Proust’s A la recherche du temps perdu is widely hailed as a masterpiece in its own right.

Did Marcel Proust have asthma?

Marcel Proust (1871-1922), one of the greatest writers of all times, suffered from asthma beginning at age 9, in an era when the illness was considered a ‘nervous’ disorder belonging to what Beard, in 1870, called ‘neurasthenia’.

Who translated Proust into English?

CHARLES SCOTT MONCRIEFF
Schiff dedicated his translation: “To the memory of my friend CHARLES SCOTT MONCRIEFF, Marcel Proust’s incomparable translator.” Le Temps Retrouvé had two other English translators: Andreas Mayor and Frederick A.

Which Proust translation should I read?

However, if you want to read the Proust that Proust saw published, that influenced Virginia Woolf and James Joyce, that is all of one piece and interpreted by someone as close to Proust’s sensibilities, education and experience as you can get, then you must read the Scott Moncrieff translation.

Is Proust a common name in France?

The last name Proust is most prevalent in France, where it is borne by 10,007 people, or 1 in 6,638.

Why read Proust for the first time?

Reading Proust for the first time is an act of faith. On several occasions I considered abandoning this reading project; I thought, I could’ve read a lot of shorter, more enjoyable books in the time I’ve been spending on Proust. Also, I keep asking myself: what is the point of all this?

What makes Proust’s “the parent-child relationship” special?

Proust is willing to keenly illustrate the disappointment, frustration, tenderness, confusion, irritation and lack of understanding that is intrinsic to the parent-child relationship because it is also underscored by love.

Is in search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust worth reading?

In Search of Lost Time, or Remembrance of Things Past, as Proust’s “novel” is variously titled in English, is widely touted as one of the favourite books of the 20th century, second only to The Lord of the Rings.

Is Proust the greatest writer of 20th century?

Whenever you read Proust, for the rest of your life, he’s part of you, the way Shakespeare is part of you. I don’t want to exaggerate, but I truly feel that he is the great writer of the 20th century.” Great texts are those that involve the reader to an extraordinary degree.