Marcel Proust

Date of Birth: July 10, 1871

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: November 18, 1922

Biography

Marcel Proust, born Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust, was a French novelist, critic, and essayist best known for his monumental novel “À la recherche du temps perdu” (In Search of Lost Time; earlier rendered as Remembrance of Things Past). This seven-part series was published between 1913 and 1927 and is considered one of the greatest works of literature of the 20th century. Proust was born into an affluent family in Paris, France. Despite his frail health and suffering from asthma throughout his life, he was well-educated and displayed an early talent for writing. He attended the Lycée Condorcet, where he established important lifelong friendships and connections. He later studied law at the École des Sciences Politiques. In his early twenties, Proust became involved with the Parisian literary and social scene, contributing to various literary magazines and making connections with influential writers and artists. However, it was his magnum opus, “À la recherche du temps perdu,” that cemented his place in literary history. The novel explores themes of memory, time, and social dynamics, and is celebrated for its deep psychological insight and innovative narrative structure. Proust’s personal life was marked by a reclusive nature, especially after the death of his mother in 1905. He spent much of his later life in relative seclusion, dedicating himself to his writing. His health continued to decline, and he passed away in 1922 at the age of 51.

5 Interesting Facts about Marcel Proust

1. Marcel Proust completed “À la recherche du temps perdu” while largely confined to his bedroom due to his poor health.

2. He was awarded the prestigious Prix Goncourt in 1919 for “À l’ombre des jeunes filles en fleurs” (In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower), the second volume of his magnum opus.

3. Proust was known for his elaborate social life in his early years, frequenting the salons of Parisian high society.

4. His work introduced the concept of “involuntary memory,” famously illustrated by the episode of the madeleine dipped in tea.

5. Proust’s novel “À la recherche du temps perdu” has been translated into numerous languages and continues to be a subject of scholarly study and literary admiration worldwide.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Marcel Proust

1. “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

2. “We are healed of a suffering only by experiencing it to the full.”

3. “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”

4. “Happiness is beneficial for the body, but it is grief that develops the powers of the mind.”

5. “Remembrance of things past is not necessarily the remembrance of things as they were.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Marcel Proust was born into a wealthy family and did not have significant financial concerns during his lifetime. However, exact figures regarding his highest net worth are not well-documented. His wealth primarily came from his family’s fortune.