A Reader's Guide to Proust's 'In Search of Lost Time'

by David Ellison

Proust's ‘A la recherche du temps perdu' (In Search of Lost Time) is many things at a novel of education, a portrait of French society during the Third Republic, a masterful psychological analysis of love, a reflection on homosexuality, an essay in moral and aesthetic theory, and, above all, one of the great literary achievements of the twentieth century. This Reader's Guide analyses each volume of the ‘Recherche' in order and in detail. Without jargon or technical language, David Ellison leads the reader through the work, clarifying but not oversimplifying the intricate beauty of Proust's imaginary universe. Focused both on large themes and on narrative and stylistic particularities, Ellison's readings expand our understanding and appreciation of the work and provide tools for the further study of Proust. All French quotations are translated, making this an ideal guide for students of comparative literature as well as of French.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference

230 pages, Paperback

First published February 18, 2010

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best critical analysis of the text of In Search of Lost Time that I have read, and I have read a number since finishing Proust's book last Summer. This is also only one of two (the other Roger Shattuck) critical analysis of Proust's masterpiece where the author states that the the structure of Proust's book shows that Proust assumes his readers will reread his book. I came to the same conclusion in my own rereading of Proust but have been puzzled that, to my knowledge, the Proustian critical literature does not address this point. The book is short, only Two Hundred pages, and is expensive (I paid $20.00 for a good used copy). The book does not use any analytical jargon, but is what I would call "closely reasoned" and therefore requires a careful reading and sometimes rereading. Quotes from In Search of Lost Time are provided in French and English which is helpful. There is a chronology of Proust's life and earlier work in a Twenty-seven page Introduction followed by Six Chapters of analysis, one for each volume of In Search of Lost Time except The Captive and The Fugitive which share a Chapter. The organization within chapters provides a critical summary (not a plot summary) of each Volume followed by excerpting selected passages and a detailed analysis of those passages by discussing how Proust lays out various themes, how narrative in one volume is connected with other volumes etc. That the author not only gives his analysis but gives a text example while explaining finer points is what sets this volume apart for me. I appreciate the author laying out his analytical opinions. I didn't always agree, but I appreciated the opportunity to be given specific ideas to compare to my current opinions. At Two Hundred pages only selected sections are analyzed in-depth. I recommend this book for those that have read In Search of Lost Time and would enjoy a text-based analysis of Proust's book.

[Sammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Ellison's guide is the best of its type. There are many good books on Proust as a man, and a couple (e.g. Roger Shattuck) of very good books on "In Search of Lost Time". However, it's very hard to find a blow-by-blow guide for the reader or student - even the Wikipedia page on the book is appallingly brief! Ellison works through each volume, chapter by chapter, section by section. He discusses plot (as does Patrick Alexander, in his very good book that doesn't go far enough) but also discusses art and philosophical concerns, and the links to Proust's own life. This is a valuable resource for either people who are reading Proust casually (like myself) and would like a reading companion, or undergraduate students seeking a primer.

[diario_de_um_leitor_pjv · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um bom guia para ajudar uma leitura muito especial.

[Braden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great accompaniment to Proust as it tackles all of the major themes of In Search of Lost Time as well as delving into textual analysis related to the literary and plot elements of the work. Ellison analyzes the work in order of the volumes rather than by theme, which is one of the major differences between this work and Proust's Way: A Field Guide to In Search of Lost Time, another title I can highly recommend to Proust enthusiasts.

Ellison does a great job of delving into some pretty complex ideas without being dry or "academic," a word I hesitate to use in a negative light because it is possible to deal with complex subjects with academic rigour and still be readable. I think Ellison does that with this title quite well.

One minor qualm I have with this is its subtitle. It is less of a reader's guide than it is an analysis, so if you are looking for a straight-up guide to characters, plot, settings, etc., you would do better with Marcel Proust's Search for Lost Time: A Reader's Guide to the Remembrance of Things Past (although I wasn't a fan of that title at all).

This a great addition to the library of any Proust reader, whether you are just beginning to dive into Proust or are an old-hand.

[David Goldman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent introduction to Proust's In Search of Lost Time. The book is relatively short, scholarly but very clearly written. It focuses on the thematic development and reviews plot and characters only in service to the explanations of theme. The very brief biography also focuses on literary development. For those who want a more traditional reader's guide (listing of all plot lines and characters) this may not be for you. Indeed, the book could have been a bit more comprehensive as entire sections of some volumes go without comment. However, there must be some sacrifices to make the book short enough to be an introduction, and my sense is that Ellison balances brevity and usefulness about as well as possible.

If you are looking for short, scholarly, readable introduction to the structure and theme of ISOLT, this is an excellent choice.

[Gabriel Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise, informative and erudite. Recommended.