Darwin8u’s Comments (group member since Jan 04, 2013)

Darwin8u’s comments from the The Year of Reading Proust group.

Here are my Proust reviews:


1. Swann's Way: Davis Translation
2. In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower: Grieve Translation
3. The Guermantes Way: Treharne Translation
4. Sodom and Gommorah: Sturrock Translation
5. the Captive: Moncrieff Translation
6. the Fugative: Moncrieff Translation
7. Time Regained

And my review of the entire novel:
In Search of Lost Time

I just ran across a fantastic letter from a 16 y/o Proust to his grandfather asking for 13 francs:

18 May 1888

Thursday evening.

My dear little grandfather,

I appeal to your kindness for the sum of 13 francs that I wished to ask Mr. Nathan for, but which Mama prefers I request from you. Here is why. I so needed to see if a woman could stop my awful masturbation habit that Papa gave me 10 francs to go to a brothel. But first, in my agitation, I broke a chamber pot: 3 francs; then, still agitated, I was unable to screw. So here I am, back to square one, waiting more and more as hours pass for 10 francs to relieve myself, plus 3 francs for the pot. But I dare not ask Papa for more money so soon and so I hoped you could come to my aid in a circumstance which, as you know, is not merely exceptional but also unique. It cannot happen twice in one lifetime that a person is too flustered to screw.

I kiss you a thousand times and dare to thank you in advance.

I will be home tomorrow morning at 11am. If you are moved by my situation and can answer my prayers, I will hopefully find you with the amount. Regardless, thank you for your decision which I know will come from a place of friendship.

Marcel.

http://www.openculture.com/2013/11/16...