Marcel Proust

Marcel Proust was a French novelist, essayist, and critic best known for writing In Search of Lost Time (À la recherche du temps perdu), a seven-volume modernist masterpiece that redefined the structure and ambition of the novel form. Born into a wealthy Parisian family, Proust suffered from chronic asthma from a young age, which limited his ability to participate in conventional work and social life. He was educated at the Lycée Condorcet and later studied law and philosophy, but his true interests lay in literature and society. In the 1890s, he moved in elite artistic circles and contributed essays and translations to literary journals while attending salons frequented by aristocrats and artists alike. After the death of his parents, Proust withdrew increasingly from society. From 1909 until his death, he wrote obsessively, largely in isolation, lining his bedroom with cork to block noise and light. Swann’s Way, the first volume of his novel cycle, was published in 1913 after being rejected by major publishers. Despite a slow initial reception, the series gained acclaim, and Proust’s reputation grew during and after his lifetime. Now, In Search of Lost Time is often referred to collectively as one of the greatest literary achievements of all time.