Marcel Proust's Search for Lost Time: A Reader's Guide to the Remembrance of Things Past

Whether you're new to Proust's In Search of Lost Time or, as I am, re-reading it, this book will be a constant and invaluable resource. It's not a substitute for the sometimes hard task of grappling with Proust's dense prose but it makes it a lot easier, particularly when it comes to keeping track of all the characters. The contextual historical essays on the Belle Époque and the Dreyfus Affairs are immensely helpful for those whose familiarity with late 19th/early 20th century French history may be a bit rusty or hazy.

Ésta es la más simple de las guías para la lectura de "En busca del tiempo perdido", pero muy útil al mismo tiempo. Se divide en tres partes. Primera parte: “Lo que sucede en Proust”. Es un resumen libro por libro y parte por parte de “En busca del tiempo perdido”. No hay riesgo de que nos destripe el argumento porque lo importante en esta novela no se encuentra ni mucho menos en la trama, y sin embargo este resumen puede ayudarnos en momentos de ligera desorientación y desaliento. Para hacer trabajos escolares sin haberse leído la novela puede ser también bastante útil, pero ese es otro tema. Segunda parte: “Quién es quién en Proust”. Se trata de una guía alfabética de los personajes más importantes de la novela (unos 60). En cada entrada se explica quién es el personaje, los principales rasgos de su carácter, así como su papel y evolución a lo largo de la historia. Reconozco que estos resúmenes están muy bien hechos y a mí me están ayudando bastante. Más que los de la primera parte. Tercera parte: “El mundo de Proust”. Es la más corta de las tres y se compone de una serie de artículos sobre la biografía de Proust, el París en el que vivió y en el que se desarrolla parte de su novela, la Belle Époque y el “Asunto Dreyfuss”. Cierra el libro un apéndice que recoge una bibliografía sobre “En busca del tiempo perdido” y Proust. Es muy buena, sobre todo porque es de esas que piensan más en la utilidad para el lector que en el lucimiento del autor. También hay un apartado dedicado a las páginas de internet sobre Proust y su obra, aunque, por la propia volatilidad del medio, no es tan interesante. Como curiosidad, también encontraremos en el apéndice un cómputo de páginas y de palabras por libros y total. Ya os anticipo que la novela se extiende a lo largo de 3.275 páginas y que para llegar a la última (sin saltarnos ninguna, claro) habremos tenido que leer 1.404.975 palabras solamente.

I started Proust's Remembrance several years ago and have worked my way through four of the seven volumes of the edition I own. I thought that if I persisted, I would "get" what Proust was aiming at. However at the end of the fourth volume, I was no more closer to an understanding of the flow of his work than earlier. As an undergraduate, I had tried to read Thucydides Peloponnesian War cold and got no where with it, literally. Years later (in a graduate course) I confronted Thucydides again but this time with a reader's guide. It made all the difference and I was able to fully understand and appreciate the masterwork his War actually is. Recalling that experience, I came across this volume in my online research on trying to understanding Proust. I grabbed it and have devoured it in the few short days since I received it. Again, it makes all the difference in the world because it explains Proust's work by content and places it it context with his life, his environment and the times he lived. I no longer doubt that this is a masterwork, difficult as it is to work through, as I have found that it speaks to incidents and feelings in my life which I thought were unique to me. The rewards (even in retrospect, as I have recalled incidents in past volumes through Alexander's work) just keep coming. I do not post reviews on anything very often but this book has been a godsend in guiding me through what seemed a hopeless morass of narration that I could only vaguely understand. For those who would like to unlock the inner dynamics and dimensions of Proust's work, I highly recommend Alexander's Guide.

I have had the two volume set of 'Remembrance Of Things Past' by C K Scott Moncrieff for a few years and not got round to reading it. I also bought the first of the updated six volume set of 'In Search Of Lost Time: Swann's Way' with the intention of trying again. Unfortunately I have kept putting it off, even though I really did want to read it. I think I was put off by the cast of characters in the 3000+ pages and the fear that it would be a too serious a tome (like 'The Count Of Monte Cristo' - apologies to those that have read it). It has a short introduction to the full work with an additional quite detailed introduction to each volume, plus a list of characters and a small biography of each of the major characters that feature. There is also a small biography of Marcel Proust at the end. This book by Patrick Alexander has really helped, showing that 'In Search Of Lost Time' is a very interesting and humorous novel. If I had not read this book I know I would have never attempted Proust, fearing it would be too dry and serious. I therefore heartily recommend it to anyone in the same situation. I would also recommend How Proust Can Change Your Life by Alain de Botton, which is quite humorous too and a good introduction to Proust's private life.

Guia inteligente para facilitar el acceso a una obra fundamental de la literatura. De fácil y amena lectura y muy ilustrativa.