I'm pleased to report that two new members of the reading group came out for our latest meeting, expanding our numbers and bringing a wealth of insight to Proust that will assuredly be beneficial for everyone. This week we delved further into Swann's Way, discussing in particular the significance of the "two ways" (Swann's Way and the Guermantes Way), the lesbian scene between Mlle. Vinteuil and her young friend, and the beginning of "Swann in Love," which included the introduction of Vinteuil's "little phrase" and the "little clan" surrounding the Verdurin salon. Needless to say, there was a lot of important material introduced from our last session.
Other topics included the important of John Ruskin and Henri Bergson on Proust's intellectual development, differences in translation between all of the various versions of In Search of Lost Time that group members are reading, and the shift in narrative voice from first-person to third-person in "Swann in Love." Am I forgetting anything else?
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, Feb. 8 in the meeting room of the Strathcona Library at 7 o'clock. We'll still be discussing Swann's Way. See you then!
It's great to have a summary of the meetings for those who have to miss it. I too was intrigued by the lesbian scene and wonder what you all thought. I was kind of turned off by the scorn shown to the dead father; spitting on his picture??! Why?? What did you all say about that?
ReplyDeleteAm now finished Swann in Love and onto the last section where he is going to the Champs Elysée every day to play with Gilberte etc. Am wondering, about how old he is here? Also, why this structure of the novel, with Swann's story, told in the third person, and happening years earlier, sandwiched in between Combray and "Place Names."
I am reading Lydia Davis' translation; is anyone else using that one?
Yvette
You know, we didn't actually discuss the desecration of the photo! However, it does relate to a minor theme of sadism that runs throughout In Search of Lost Time, as well as to actual incidents in Proust's personal life in which he would do similar things with photos of his parents after they had died (even though he mostly adored his parents). Odd fellow, that Proust.
ReplyDeleteAs for the narrator's age at the end of Swann's Way, he would likely be 10-12. That's what I've managed to put together, anyway.
I think I'll leave the question of the placement of Swann in Love between Combray and Place Names for the next meeting. There will probably be lots of opinions about that!
Oh, and I'm also reading the Lydia Davis translation but we are the only two reading that one.
ReplyDelete