It came to me yesterday by way of a causal comment via Twitter, a comment from bookish friend and follower @blondediva11 and it simply said – “Remembrance of Things Past-Proust”. At first I was confused. I thought blondediva11 was simply passing on a recommendation (which is nice in itself), but she told me she was passing the tweet on to me in reply to yesterday’s Booking Through Thursday question (which I myself answered HERE) – What’s the best book that you haven’t read yet?
That brief Twitter exchange may well have been the end of it for me, but I’m always passionate about listening to others who are equally as passionate about their books, and I started to think about blondediva11’s recommendation. I’ll admit rather shamefully that although I’d heard of Marcel Proust I didn’t really know him, and I certainly had never read him, so to make amends I sent myself on a hunt to find out a bit more.
I won’t bore everyone with the details of what I discovered (especially for those who are already intimate with Proust), but I did find an online version of ‘Remembrance of Things Past’ (which is also known in the English as ‘In Search of Lost Time’), courtesy of The University of Adelaide Library, and I began reading it, only briefly, to gain a flavour for Proust’s writing. I must have read only a dozen or so paragraphs of the first chapter of the first volume known as Swann’s Way, but I quickly began to feel my heart glowing in a way it doesn’t too often, and only then for the writing of the authors I hold most precious to me – such as Steinbeck, Hamsun and Chekhov, to name but three. As I continued to read my heart thumped faster and faster and my stomach started churning, and I knew, even after only such a short time, that I’d discovered a writer who was going to fundamentally touch my soul forever.
Later on yesterday I set about ordering a physical copy (or rather copies as it’s multi-volume) of ‘Remembrance of Things Past’. As easily as I could have just downloaded the online copy on to my Sony Reader I want a physical copy of the work, because I envisage reading it anywhere and everywhere, and I don’t want the environmental restrictions that an ereader can sometimes introduce.
Even though I really wanted the more recently translated Penguin edition of ‘Remembrance of Things Past’ (which they’re publishing under the title of ‘In Search of Lost Time’), complete in 6 volumes at £9.99 each, I ended up going for the cheaper Wordsworth edition (Vol. 1, Vol. 2) which is complete in only 2 volumes at £6.99 each. I’m sure in terms of quality the Penguin edition would have been the best choice but when the RobAround book budget only stretches so far (as it does with all of us bibliophiles), you sometimes have to rule with your credit card rather than your head. I also figured as the translation is from the French there wouldn’t be too much discrepancies between the two (unlike say Russian or Greek). Any thoughts?
While I was at it I also ordered a copy of Alain de Botton’s How Proust Can Change Your Life, simply because of the positive reaction it seems to be spreading. That gives me three new titles to schedule into my reading, but with all of my current ongoing reading commitments I have no idea how I’ll fit Proust into my life but as the adage says – where there’s a will there’s a way, and in me there’s definitely a will so I’m sure I’ll find the way!
The last word on this however must be one of appreciation, and that appreciation of course goes to the person responsible for bringing Proust into my life. If you remember that’s blondediva11 and I really want to thank her from the very bottom of my heart. I now hope that she too will somehow find a way to fit something that she yearns so much to read into her busy life, and with something as special as this, how could she afford not too?
If you have any thoughts, comments or opinions on Marcel Proust or his writing then I’d love to hear them! You’d be totally enlightening a Proust newbie! 
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About Rob
Rob, this is such a wonderful post. What a great feeling to fall in love with a writer after just reading a few pages. Frances (of Nonsuch Book) will be reading Proust this year, too. I hoped I can join her but a bit hesitant if I’m able. However, your post is making me think about it. Thanks. I’ll be back for your forethoughts and afterthoughts when I do decide to read it.
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Claire – Thank you for your incredibly kind words. I speak from the heart so sometimes I can come over as a bit overly-sentimental, but I’m glad my writing struck a chord with you. I hope you do get around to reading it with Frances.
…and talking of Frances. Thanks for the ‘heads up’ on letting me know she’s diving into Proust this year too. I had no idea so I’ll make sure I go along and ‘bug’ her about it
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Take care
Speak soon
Rob
I’m going to read Proust, but probably not til next year. I’ll look forward to your thoughts.
In terms of translation, I’ve also heard great things about the Penguin. I won’t read it until I can get the best translation though — thinking of how much time I will spend reading it, I want to be reading the nicest translation possible. I’ve also heard good things about Botton’s book. I really do look forward to reading Proust, but I think I need to read some more of other literature before I’m quite ready for it!
Yes, I’m a bit intimidated, but I’ve heard it’s very much worth the struggle.
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Rebecca – Thank you for your thoughts, they’re much appreciated. Good reasoning to seek out the best translation of Proust given the amount of time you’re going to spend with it. I don’t think there’s anything particularly wrong with C. K. Scott Moncrieff’s translation (the original English translation used by Wordsworth Editions), it’s just old (1920s), and the Penguin translations are probably a lot more contemporary, and translated using a more modern vocabulary. But then again I don’t know whether that’s a good thing or not. Wouldn’t reading a translation that’s more contemporary to the period makes it more accurate? I dunno!
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I think the biggest advantage to using the Penguin edition though is having the work spread across more volumes. That’s going to make it a bit more longer-lasting (in terms of wear and tear) and easier to handle.
Ohhh….and from what I’ve read of your blog you’re more than ready to read anyone your heart desires. – you definitely have a profound literary understanding. No worries on that score Rebecca.
Warmest regards
Rob
I’ve heard good things about Lydia Davis’ translation of the first book, although the new title, The Way By Swann’s reads as a horrid atrocity committed upon the established Swann’s Way. The second book in the Penguin translation, by another translator, James Grieves – they used seven translators! – doesn’t fare much better as titles go, the familiar Within A Budding Grove mangled to In The Shadow Of Young Girls In Flower. (I read a review somewhere that said Grieves takes far too many liberties with the prose too.)
Looking over the Reading Proust site I spotted this
Were I to choose a Proust I think I’d have to go with the Enright revision (of Kilmartin’s revision) of Moncrieff’s original translation. First of all, because I think Moncrieff was closer in appreciation of the original French than Penguin’s seven jobbers; and secondly because who gives a damn about comprehensibility for the 21st Century American reader? It’s a rendering of a text from the early 20th Century, you expect some level of datedness. I don’t suppose they’ll go as extreme as to change the madeleine to a Jaffa Cake, but we don’t go updating Dickens’ or any of the Brontës’ language just because it was from a time gone by. I think (as a philistine who hasn’t read either translation anyway) the Moncrieff should just be left as a definitive translation, with occasional edits to reflect the times-they-are-a-changing, and put those seven translators to the task of enriching us with seven as yet untranslated works of French literature.
I really appreciate Stewart’s comment. I’m going to have to do lots of my own research before I read this just because I read *somewhere* that *Moncrieff’s* was error-filled. In the long run, it may not matter much!
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Hehehe….this is like some kind of verbal tennis – one minute the case seems strong for the modern translation (Francis(nonsuchbook) and Daniel (readingproust.com), and the next, it’s across the ‘net’ and the upper hand is with the traditional rendering (Stewart). Help I’m confused!
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Seriously though that’s a really nice way of putting things Stewart – a wonderfully well-worded argument for going with the traditional, and the point of having no need or inclination to update Dicken’s or the Bronte’? Superb! (although of course they were written in English to start with)
I think I have a foot in both camps (or both sides of the court if we’re still using the ‘tennis’ analogy). I agree with you whole-heartily Stewart, that keeping the ‘voice’ of the text in the period it was created keeps it more accurate (I mentioned that in my comment to Rebecca above), but on the same score I also see some advantage in the more modern translation too – the Davis’ translation in Daniel’s ‘Duelling Madeleine’ comparison just flows much more readily. I agree with you completely though, if we ‘dumb down’ classic texts for a modern audience then they no longer remain classic and instead become some kind of ‘Frankenstein’s monster’ of their former self – No Good!
Personally, if one has the time and inclination, I think the best way to go is to read both, and if the Proustian passion remains burning in me as brightly as it is now then I probably will. Ultimately though it is of course down to personal preference, and regardless of which translation of Proust people are reading, I’m just happy when people are reading it.
Oh and P.S. Stewart – swapping madeleines for Jaffa Cakes? Hehehe…..too funny (although I’ve got to admit to experiencing the same level of Proustian ecstasy while eating Jaffa Cakes)
Anyway thanks for the debate guys. I’m loving it immensely!
Warmest
Rob
I may be joining the Proust bandwagon after all, but not reading In Search Of Lost Time. My copy of The Lemoine Affair arrived today, and what a delight it is to look at, but, then, that’s to be expected as it’s part of Melville House’s Art of the Novella series. The Contemporary Art of the Novella series is nicer, but both sets look great when collected together.
A book came out last year that the NYT recommended, “Paintings in Proust: A Visual Companion to ‘In Search of Lost Time,’” by Eric Karpeles. The author tracked down every image referenced in the work and has the illustration plus the accompanying text. Here’s the link to the NYT article, it talks about the book about 2/3rds down: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/books/2008holidayArtb.html?ref=arts
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You do know your comment was a revelation to me? The Art of the Novella series is gorgeous – so much so it inspired a new ‘Cover Love’ feature *grin* You’re such a tease, but thanks for pointing me towards it
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Kim – A book which you no doubt know by now that Frances has also discussed? Thames and Hudson publish some remarkable art books, and this has to be one of them. Thanks for the ‘heads up’