Swann's Way: In Search of Lost Time, Vol. 1 (Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition)

Marcel Proust?s In Search of Lost Time is one of the most entertaining reading experiences in any language and arguably the finest novel of the twentieth century. But since its original prewar translation there has been no completely new version in English. Now, Penguin Classics brings Proust?s masterpiece to new audiences throughout the world, beginning with Lydia Davis?s internationally acclaimed translation of the first volume, Swann?s Way. more

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From: Amazon
Posted: Aug-28-2009

Mixed feelings-brilliant but overrated

This was my first encounter with Proust. I read Davis' well-written intro and a smattering of other stuff, so I had a basic idea going in as to what Proust set out to do. I found it pretty difficult at first getting used to Proust's long and meandering sentences. After 50 or so pages I began...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Aug-17-2009

Flawed

For all the good that can be said about this atmospheric novel, Part I 'Combray' represents the point at which well-observed becomes over-analysed; Part II 'Swann in Love' represents the point at which foolish characters become false; and Part III 'Place Names -- the Name' I haven't read and...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Aug-04-2009

Proust's overture to his life's symphony

Here, in the first volume of "In Search of Lost Time," are the overture and prelude to Proust's symphony. We meet the narrator as a child, sickly, a bit pampered, unable to sleep, and desirous of his mother's attentions and affection--an opening scene memorably mocked by one myopic contemporary...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Jun-24-2009

Sense and nonsense

There are some wonderful sections in this, especially the early part when the narrator is young and struggling with sleep, wanting his mother. The part about Tilia leaf tea is another high point. But mostly it seems to be overwritten, largely without any meaning or involvement.

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From: Amazon
Posted: Apr-26-2009

Don't be Suckered by the Kindle Edition

If you click on the Kindle teaser on this page, it will take you to the Kindle order page, which shows a cover photo of this wonderful Lydia Davis translation in the Penguin series. However, if you order the Kindle edition, you will find to your great surprise that it is NOT the Davis/Penguin...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Feb-06-2009

A handsome new edition

This new translation was well reviewed by The New York Times and the book itself is beautiful. I found the structure of many sentences more convoluted than in the Moncrieff version, but this is often closer to the original French text. However, each volume in this series has a different...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Feb-01-2009

Beautiful

Proust is a master of artful presentation of the invisible. Having eaten of Madeleine, Marcel discovered a part of himself he did not know existed. After seeing Martinville steeples, he felt it again and knew to transform the experience into a piece of writing. He searched for it, invoking it by...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Jan-30-2009

The joy of discovering Proust

One of my goals for this year was to read some classic literature. First on my list was "Swann's Way", the first volume in Proust's "In Search of Lost Time". To my surprise and great delight, I found Proust and particularly Lydia Davis' translation to be highly readable, accessible, and...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Aug-13-2008

new translation of "Swan's Way"

This new translation of Marcel Proust's French masterpiece makes it an English masterpiece. While all complain of Proust's long sentences and paragraphs, I didn't find them a problem, as I did when I read Henry James late novels (e.g. "The Golden Bowl"). I first read de Botton's "How Proust Can...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Dec-10-2007

Best Read I've Had In A While

This is certainly the best book I have read in a very long time. Although Proust has long run on sentences, I love the way he goes into great detail over the seemingly ordinary things of life - the nuances and idiosyncrasies of himself, others, plants, his community....It can take a thought that...

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