In response to a recent letter expressing scepticism about Marcel Proust's 'In Search of Lost Time', several readers have come forward to share their own experiences and encourage others to give the monumental work a chance. The consensus? Proust may be challenging, but the rewards are immense.
A Journey Worth Taking
Bill Gaver from London read all seven volumes over nine months. He acknowledges that there are stretches of tedium, but insists that every hundred pages or so, readers are treated to five to ten pages of the most revelatory reading imaginable. 'Was it worth it? Totally,' he says, though he admits he probably would not do it again. 'But I won the bet.'
Accessibility and Surprising Content
Sally Burch read most of the novel in French on the Paris Métro during her year abroad in the 1960s. She found that being buried in a book was a good way to deter unwanted male attention. For those who fear that nothing happens, she points out that there is a great variety of sex and plenty of it. 'En route, you can enjoy Proust's unrivalled powers of description – from a blossoming May tree to the voice of a telephonist to the effect of stumbling on a paving stone – and his masterful analysis of psychology and social structures.'
Humour and Plot Twists
Claire Chandy from Bristol has read the novel three times in translation and emphasises that it is very funny in places, with some surprising plot developments. Anthony Burton from Stroud, Gloucestershire, took a volume of Proust while filming in India. When the crew moved his bookmark to test him, he was able to complain that he had lost his place, impressing them with his genuine engagement.
Alternative Entry Points
John Prescott Thomas from Bristol suggests that those who find Proust daunting should try the bande dessinée version published in six volumes by Delcourt. 'Accessible, highly entertaining and surprisingly faithful to the aims of the prose original.'
These letters offer encouragement to anyone hesitant about tackling Proust, highlighting the humour, social intrigue, and profound insights that await those who persevere.
