2018: Our Year of Reading Proust discussion

About churches and cathedrals-- I know that Proust spent years reading Ruskin and visiting cathedrals in France, as well as St Marks in Venice, and that it's been said the novel itself was constructed like a cathedral. Still, I don't understand why Proust dedicated so many years to Ruskin, and why the study of cathedrals became the turning point for Proust in his ability to begin the writing of his own novel. Anyone able to shed more light on this for me?

I think the fondness for Ruskin is more related to art. primarily paintings. Proust was a very frequent visitor to the Louvre, and the novel refers to over 200 different paintings, which are illustrated here:
https://www.amazon.com/Paintings-Prou...

Ruskin was THE art critic of his time - up until WW1. Basically, he rejected "classical" styles, in both art and architecture. A big fan of Gothic architecture "Strong, solid, and aspiring". he believed that art should imitate nature, closely observed.

I'd say that Proust also rejected tradition, and I can think of no novelist who more closely observed (human) nature.

This is a good video to get a sense of Ruskin's importance for Proust; Proust translated Ruskin.
https://vimeo.com/53133740

Mary Anne wrote: "This is a good video to get a sense of Ruskin's importance for Proust; Proust translated Ruskin.
https://vimeo.com/53133740"
thanks. I'll take a look!

When Norpois is speaking disapprovingly of Bergotte with Marcel
(week ending 3/4) , is he hinting that Bergotte is a homosexual? I wasn't sure.

No, I don't think so; Bergotte's "companion" is probably his mistress. Norpois is just doing what he does so well--being a complete tool. Another example of the subtlety of Proust's humor; Norpois is a diplomat, yet he cannot open his mouth without being insulting.

Elizabeth wrote: "No, I don't think so; Bergotte's "companion" is probably his mistress. Norpois is just doing what he does so well--being a complete tool. Another example of the subtlety of Proust's humor; Norpois ..."
so funny, you are so right about Norpois!