Description

Marcel Proust 18711922 was arguably Frances bestknown literary writer He was the author of stories essays translations and a 3000page novel In Search of Lost Time 191327

This book is a brief guide to Prousts magnum opus in which Joshua Landy invites the listener to view the novel as a single questa quest for purpose enchantment identity connection and belongingthrough the novels fascinating treatments of memory society art samesex desire knowledge selfunderstanding selffashioning and the unconscious mind

Landy also shows why the questions Proust raises are important and exciting for all of us how we can feel at home in the world how we can find genuine connection with other human beings how we can find enchantment in a world without God whether an artists 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 Finally Landy suggests why its worthwhile to read the novel itselfhow the long difficult but joyous experience of making it through 3000 pages of prose can be transformative for our minds and souls