The Harvardwood Introduction to Proust by Steve Bachmann

by Steve Bachmann

This concise overview makes a sweeping, timeless literary classic more accessible to modern readers. The year 2013 marks the centennial of the publication of the first volume of Marcel Proust’s masterwork, "À la recherché du temps perdu" or "In Search of Lost Time." The first volume was titled "Du cóte de chez Swann" or "Swann’s Way." The full story extends to more than a million words. While it is a masterpiece of world literature, it is not something that can be digested with the ease of, say, a sonnet by Shakespeare, or a painting by Matisse. The goal of this brief introduction from Harvardwood Publishing and Unlimited Publishing LLC is to democratize Proust, and also to induce more readers to celebrate him. It includes extensive references for scholarly study, but is easy for lay readers to appreciate.ABOUT THE Bachmann, A.B. (Harvard), M.F.A. (UNO), J.D. (Harvard) is a co-founder of "The New Orleans Art Review" and author of five books of art and literary criticism from Unlimited Publishing LLC. They include "Beyond New Orleans Reviews of Art;" "EXTREME PROUST;" "Simulating Aesthetic Representations of Erotic Activity;" "Unbecoming Jane" and now this remarkable primer for those new to Marcel Proust, as well as Proust scholars. He is also a widely-published legal theorist and activist lawyer.

Paperback

First published February 6, 2013

Reviews

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this small and accessible introduction to Proust's work. The Cover Art separates it from similar offerings. Indeed, it offers a slightly different take on Proust. The author is a Harvard educated lawyer who lives in New Orleans. Havardwood Press is a collaborative effort of Harvard Alumni in Hollywood and elsewhere. The book consists of 28 short sections and 4 Appendices. The author invites the reader to browse the sections in any order. Taking nothing for granted, the first section is about the correct pronunciation of Proust's name and the second gives his full name and dates of birth and death. Other early sections discuss Proust's life, list important inventions during his life, changes in French Society, and the prevalence of mental illness and suicide in artistic and literary figures during Proust's lifetime. Most of the section's deal with introduction to Proust's major work which is abbreviated "SEARCH." Unlike other introductions to Proust, there is no summarizing of volumes and no character lists. Rather, a number of important but sometimes subtle issues about SEARCH are discussed, issues that often confuse and frustrate first time readers. I found two points appealing in this book. First, although the subjects addressed in various sections sometimes appeared to be random, taken as a whole they present a coherent introduction to Proust's SEARCH (which I have read). Second, perhaps due to his legal education, the author lets Proust's work testify for itself. This works very well. The quotes chosen make the point of each section while allowing the reader to get a feel for how Proust makes a point in his own distinctive style.The author makes brief introductory or follow up remarks, Other authors are quotes at appropriate points also. Recommended for prospective Proust readers and Proust alumni.