The World According to Proust

In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust is a 3,000-page novel that explores themes of memory, society, art, same-sex desire, knowledge, self-understanding, self-fashioning, and the unconscious mind. This short volume invites readers to view the novel as a single quest for purpose, enchantment, identity, connection, and belonging. It also shows why the questions Proust raises are important and exciting for all of us, such as how we can feel at home in the world, find genuine connection with other human beings, find enchantment in a world without God, art can transform our lives, whether an artist's life can shed light on their work, what we can know about the world, other people, and ourselves, when not knowing is better than knowing, how sexual orientation affects questions of connection and identity, who we are deep down, what memory tells us about our inner world, why it might be good to think of our life as a story, and how we can feel like a single, unified person when we are torn apart by change and competing desires. Finally, it suggests why it is worthwhile to read the novel itself, as the long, difficult, but joyous experience of making it through 3,000 pages of prose can be transformative for our minds.

Format: Hardback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

In the wake of Proust's passing, spanning a century, "In Search of Lost Time" stands as a towering masterpiece in the realm of global literature. With its mammoth 3,000-page count, it may appear daunting to some. However, this concise volume beckons both novice readers and seasoned enthusiasts to approach the novel from a fresh perspective.

Marcel Proust, hailed as one of France's most renowned literary figures, left an indelible mark on the world of letters. His literary prowess encompassed a diverse range of works, including short stories, essays, translations, and the monumental 3,000-page novel "In Search of Lost Time" (1913-27). This book serves as a concise guide, inviting readers to perceive the novel as a unified quest, encompassing the pursuit of purpose, enchantment, identity, connection, and belonging. Through its intricate exploration of memory, society, art, same-sex desire, knowledge, self-understanding, self-fashioning, and the unconscious mind, Joshua Landy encourages the reader to immerse themselves in Proust's magnum opus.

Landy not only elucidates the significance of the questions Proust raises but also highlights their profound relevance to our contemporary lives. He explores how we can establish a sense of belonging in a world that often feels alienating, how we can forge genuine connections with others, how we can find enchantment amidst a secular existence, how art can transform our perspectives, whether an artist's personal experiences can shed light on their artistic creations, what we can truly know about the world, others, and ourselves, the merits of ignorance versus knowledge, the impact of sexual orientation on questions of connection and identity, our true essence, the revelations offered by memory, the benefits of viewing our lives as narratives, and the transformative power of engaging with the arduous yet joyous journey of traversing 3,000 pages of prose.

Furthermore, Landy suggests why reading the novel itself is a worthwhile endeavor. The prolonged, challenging, yet ultimately rewarding experience of immersing oneself in Proust's intricate prose can have a profound impact on our minds on our minds words.

Weight: 262g
Dimension: 147 x 217 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197648681