Marcel Proust

Born in Paris in 1871, Marcel Proust is widely regarded as one of the twentieth century’s most influential authors. His life’s work, the novel In Search of Lost Time, was published in seven volumes between 1913 and 1927. Although he lived out his last years in almost complete isolation, writing by night and resting by day, as a younger man Proust was a well-connected socialite, moving in the very circles depicted in his writings. His refined and introspective prose explores the power and limitations of memory and emotion. Despite having to finance the first volume of In Search of Lost Time himself, Proust left an indelible mark on world literature. He died in 1922.