In Search Of Lost Time, Vol 2
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Product Description
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"As close to being a definitive English version of the great novel as we are likely to get. This new edition will serve to introduce new generations of readers to what Somerset Maugham rightly described as the greatest novel of our century." -- Allan Massie, "Scotsman"
"The best reading version yet." -- "The Times"
"The best reading version yet." -- "The Times"
Book Description
The definitive translation of the greatest French novel of the twentieth century
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Picking up where Swann's Way left off, this is the enthralling, equisitely poetical second instalment of Proust's masterpiece. If - like me - you struggled through the first volume to adjust to the Proustian technique by which sentences can, and frequently do, occupy an entire page of script, by the time you pick up the second volume the language seems as natural and fluent as it once felt awkward and clumsy.
The Author spends the first part of the novel dealing with love and obsession in his formative years - his emotions fluttering between Gilberte and her mother, the notorious Mme Swann. Whilst the first half of Within a Budding Grove offers a delightful insight into the workings of human love and, more touchingly, the anguish from which it is unseparable in the heart of the author, the volume really comes to live when we reach Balbec.
In the latter half of the novel we are treated to Proust at his best: using the characters of Elstir, Albertine and Saint-Loup the author treats us to splendid discussions on what are, in descending order of value, his most cherished themes of art, love and friendship respectively.
In short, Swann's way was a splendid prologue to the rest of the novel which reaches new heights in this its second volume. If you were thinking about leaving it a while before attempting part two, don't - do it now.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Firstly, congratulations to anyone who has got this far and completed the first volume of Prousts epic tale. With the hard work done, you can now enjoy the fruits of your labour - this book contains a delicate, haunting account of romance which is both imaginative and highly readable. The characters are both newly introduced, and drawn from "Swanns Way", and are believable in a way that is rarely found in literature. Motives, emotions and the "human condition" are all analysed in such unflinching detail that you find yourself associating with the narrator and sharing his frustration at his own failings. Along with occasional flashes of humour, the tight storyline moves the book along far more quickly than the first volume. A superb read that will leave you wanting more (and don't worry - there are still four volumes to go!)
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A few years ago I read the first volume which makes up Proust's epic: 'A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu', Swann's Way. I found it incredibly hard work and extremely unrewarding. Since then I have been tempted to give this modern masterpiece another go, and have resolved to finish the rest of the volumes by the end of this year. I have just finished volume 2: Within a Budding Grove. I had hoped that time and age and possibly more breadth of reading on my part since volume 1, might have made things easier.
Sadly, for me at least, this is not the case. I appreciate the beauty of Proust's descriptions of the minutiae of his protagonist's day to day life. I see that each facet of his existence is rendered like an exquisite miniature painting. And yet. And yet, his book fails absolutely, at every level to elicit the kind of reverie, awe and yearning for a past I never knew that I think it is supposed to.
Mostly it makes me want to hit things with a hammer.
The main problem, for me, is that I cannot warm to the protagonist at all. He is vacuous and self obsessed. He shows a singular lack of empathy with anyone and anything whilst purporting to feel every last nuance and particle of every experience to the depths of his soul. He is shallow and vain. He is unbelievably tedious, and although I am sure that Proust deserves some sort of prize for ekeing out about half a dozen desultory, unthrilling incidents to over 600 pages of luminous prose, it irks me beyond belief.
Still, only four more volumes to go.
Sadly, for me at least, this is not the case. I appreciate the beauty of Proust's descriptions of the minutiae of his protagonist's day to day life. I see that each facet of his existence is rendered like an exquisite miniature painting. And yet. And yet, his book fails absolutely, at every level to elicit the kind of reverie, awe and yearning for a past I never knew that I think it is supposed to.
Mostly it makes me want to hit things with a hammer.
The main problem, for me, is that I cannot warm to the protagonist at all. He is vacuous and self obsessed. He shows a singular lack of empathy with anyone and anything whilst purporting to feel every last nuance and particle of every experience to the depths of his soul. He is shallow and vain. He is unbelievably tedious, and although I am sure that Proust deserves some sort of prize for ekeing out about half a dozen desultory, unthrilling incidents to over 600 pages of luminous prose, it irks me beyond belief.
Still, only four more volumes to go.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Perhaps some of the greatest masterpieces were read while yawning.
The above is, of course, a paraphrase of Marcel's remark about great writing not necessarily coinciding with zeal. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Philoctetes
Disappointing After Vol 1
The second volume of Proust's In Search of Lost Time, but whereas the first was genius here the mask slips and Proust is revealed as a master essayist and observer whilst the great... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Brownbear101
Pernickety, moi?
This is a minor technical complaint from someone who is greatly enjoying reading the second volume of A la recherche du Temps Perdu in English on his new Kindle. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Le Pere Nickety
review
Item arrived in great condition, but took some time and did not have the cover advertised.
Published on 19 April 2010 by Desmond Wolfe
absolutely...
The above/below reviewer is absolutely correct; although this is a staggeringly hard volume to finish. Read more
Published on 1 Nov 2001
Not on the same street as Swann's Way
Very engrossing, even though dry in places. Sometimes irritating, as when his constant use of simile-like metaphors, apparently inspired by Ruskin's theories of literature, become... Read more
Published on 30 April 1999
so delicious!
the beauty of these novels is unmatched with the possible exception of thomas wolfe. come with me and dance til dawn!
Published on 8 July 1997
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