In Search of Lost Time

Marcel Proust

Recommended By

Book Synopsis

In Search of Lost Time follows the story of an unnamed narrator as he navigates the complex landscape of memory, time, and social conventions in early 20th-century France.

The narrator, reflecting upon his own experiences, delves into his past, exploring themes of love, desire, art, and societal expectations. Through his meticulous observations, the narrator examines the nature of human perception and introspection, often pausing to examine everyday events and objects in great detail.

The book is divided into seven volumes, with each volume presenting a different phase of the narrator's life. From his childhood memories in Combray, to his formative years in Parisian society, to his encounters with lovers and friends, the narrator’s journey is marked by introspection and profound insights.

The narrative is fueled by the narrator’s encounters with figures from his past, many of whom have had a lasting impact on his life. Central to the story is his unrequited love for a woman named Albertine, whose presence haunts him throughout the narrative. The narrator’s relationships and interactions with others serve as a means to explore larger themes of identity, society, and the passing of time.

In Search of Lost Time is a sprawling and deeply introspective work, renowned for its rich prose and vivid descriptions. Proust’s masterpiece invites readers to contemplate the nature of memory and the ways in which our past experiences shape our present. Through its exploration of the human condition, Proust's masterpiece remains a timeless classic, challenging readers to reflect on their own lives and the passage of time.

Explore More Books

See All
Prime Movers of Globalization
Fall; or, Dodge in Hell
The Idealist
#AskGaryVee
Zucked
White Working Class
The Devil’s Financial Dictionary
The Diamond Age
The Design of Everyday Things
Superhuman
The Three Marriages
Maps of Meaning
The Artist's Way
Walk in Their Shoes
Francis Crick
All I Want to Know is Where I'm Going To Die So I'll Never Go There
Devil's Harbor
A Walk in the Woods
Not The End of the World
Hyperion
An Inconvenient Truth
The Blank Swan
How To Win at the Sport of Business
The Adventures of Henry Thoreau
A History of Knowledge
A Higher Loyalty
Free Women, Free Men
The Art of People
Plentiful Energy
The Halo Effect...
The Black Dahlia
Bad News
The Plot Against the President
Lolita
Striking Thoughts
Titan
For The Love Of Physics
The Death of the Artist
Leadership
Genome
The 48 Laws of Power
Trailblazer
A History of the English-Speaking Peoples
The Hustler
The Emotion Code
Hacks
Between The World And Me
Small Is the New Big
Be the Person You Want to Find
The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo
Digital Gold
The Fabric of Civilization
Devil Take the Hindmost
Prelude to Foundation
Now, Discover Your Strengths
Flying Start
Double your Profits
The Lion Tracker's Guide to Life
An Elegant Defense
Switch
Why We Sleep
Play It Away
The Starfish and the Spider
Exit Interview
Radical Son
Powers of Two
The American Challenge
When Breath Becomes Air
Money Changes Everything
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
What Do People Do All Day?
Thinking Physics
Flow
Superintelligence
The Wizard of Menlo Park
Against The World
The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt
True Believer
Born Red
The Piano Tuner
Men, Machines, and Modern Times
A Whole New Mind
At Play in the Fields of the Lord
Evolving Ourselves
The True Believer
Starlink
Sustainable Materials With Both Eyes Open
With the Old Breed
The Tycoons
Electrify
Platform Revolution
From Galileo to Newton
Modernity Without Restraint
Dominion
Sex at Dawn
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
When I Say No, I Feel Guilty
I Seem To Be A Verb
Ham on Rye
Elvis Cole Series