Marcel Proust's À la recherche du temps perdu is a novel in seven volumes that was initially published between 1913 and 1927. When it was first translated into English, its title was interpreted as Remembrance of Things Past but in more recent years has more often been translated as In Search of Lost Time. The seven volumes of the novel are:
Swann's Way (1913)
Within a Budding Grove or Within the Shadow of Young Girls in Bloom (1919)
The Guermantes Way (1920-21)
Sodom and Gomorrah or Cities of the Plain (1921-22)
The Captive or The Prisoner (1923)
The Fugitive or Albertine Gone (1925)
Time Regained (1927)
The complete work is regarded as one of the most influential and important works of literature ever written and is a captivating, unforgettable rumination on memory, time, the differences between expectation and reality, the inability to ever truly understand another person's interior life, love, loss, obsession, desire, jealousy, and the very essence of human nature.
Although the novel's reputation is firmly established, relatively few people attempt to read it due to its daunting length, plethora of characters, and unique style. The Proust Society of Edmonton hopes to partially remedy that and encourages anyone who has ever thought about tackling this monumental work to join us.
If you already have a copy of Lost Time in any translation, feel free to use it for the group. The Proust Society can also arrange to borrow copies of any translation from Edmonton Public Library. There will be no cost to participate in the reading group and you will not have to buy your own copy if you do not choose to.
