Marcel Proust's Search for Lost Time
A Reader's Guide to The Remembrance of Things Past
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- $13.99
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
An accessible, irreverent guide to one of the most admired—and entertaining—novels of the past century: Rememberance of Things Past. There is no other guide like this; a user-friendly and enticing entry into the marvelously enjoyable world of Proust.
At seven volumes, three thousand pages, and more than four hundred characters, as well as a towering reputation as a literary classic, Proust’s novel can seem daunting. But though begun a century ago, in 1909, it is in fact as engaging and relevant to our times as ever. Patrick Alexander is passionate about Proust’s genius and appeal—he calls the work “outrageously bawdy and extremely funny”—and in his guide he makes it more accessible to the general reader through detailed plot summaries, historical and cultural background, a guide to the fifty most important characters, maps, family trees, illustrations, and a brief biography of Proust. Essential for readers and book groups currently reading Proust and who want help keeping track of the huge cast and intricate plot, this Reader’s Guide is also a wonderful introduction for students and new readers and a memory-refresher for long-time fans.
Customer Reviews
Perfect
Currently reading Proust’s 7-volume work, In Search of Lost Time, and this is *the* perfect companion. I actually juggle this and David Ellison’s guide (on Kindle), and this one provides a much more detailed summary of the text (the other focuses more on themes and jumps around chronologically, marking it more unwieldy to read alongside Proust’s text—although of course I still recommend it).
And even without this utility of a stellar summary—Patrick Alexander is simply a joy to read, with bountiful insights and a deep respect for both Proust and the Search’s readers.