Swann's Way: in Search of Lost Time, Vol. 1 by Marcel Proust

📖 The Scoop

"Widely recognized as the major novel of the twentieth century" -Harold Bloom ; Literary Critic

Swann's Way is the first volume of seven of the series In Search of Lost Time written by Marcel Proust (1871-1922). It is considered to be his most prominent work, known both for its length and its theme of involuntary memory, the most famous example being the "episode of the madeleine" which occurs early in Swann's Way.

In Search of Lost Time follows the narrator's recollections of childhood and experiences into adulthood during late 19th century to early 20th century aristocratic France, while reflecting on the loss of time and lack of meaning to the world.

The novel had great influence on twentieth-century literature; some writers have sought to emulate it, others to parody it. In the centenary year of the novel's first volume, Edmund White pronounced À la recherche du temps perdu "the most respected novel of the twentieth century".

Genre: Fiction / Coming of Age (fancy, right?)