Remembrance of Things Past: Swann's way. Within a budding grove | 
pickAlthough there are newer translations with a more accurate title in English, I heard that this Moncrieff & Kilmartin first translation makes up for any liberties in English wording with lovely, flowing prose. It worked for me. I very much enjoyed this monster of a first volume, more than I had anticipated. The famous scene of the madeleine soaked in tea provoking unrealized memories led to intimacies and beauty. (Continued in the comments.)
Hamlet (Continued review #1) The language was flowing and wonderful to behold. Yes, sentences can go on for much of a page, but they‘re easy and enjoyable to follow… if you keep track of the subject way back at the start of the sentence. It all starts with the detailed emotional life of a young boy before switching to his family, Monsieur Swann and his quest after a woman, and much more. Proust lays out the minutiae of French life toward the end of …. 3y
Hamlet (Continued review #2) … the 19th century, and his understanding is vivacious and personally generous, even as he lays out insightful social satire and critique. I was startled by how funny Proust can be; I hadn‘t expected that for some reason. Let me just say that it was a pleasure to read the first volume of this longest-of-all novels. I will start Volume Two when the warm weather comes, I think. This hoariest of old, long classics is a treasure. 3y
BarbaraBB Well done! You‘ll love when he travels up the French coast- also when the warm weather comes! 3y
