Living And Dying With Marcel Proust by Christopher Prendergast

(Thank you to Europa Editions for providing me with a copy of this book!)
 

about book:

Living and Dying with Marcel Proust (June 7) is the result of a lifetime’s reading of, reflection on, and love for Proust’s masterpiece, In Search of Lost Time. 
 
One of the masterpieces of twentieth-century fiction, Proust’s In Search of Lost Time describes a unique journey, combining elements drawn from the timeless narratives of great expectations and lost illusions. In this lively and entertaining book, Christopher Prendergast traces that journey as it unfolds on an arc defined by the polarities in his title: living and dying. 
 
At once a careful contemplation Proust’s masterwork and an exploration of the rich sensory and impressionistic tapestry of a lived world, Living and Dying with Marcel Proust addresses such disparate Proustian obsessions as insomnia, food, digestion, color, addiction, memory, breath and breathing, breasts, snobbism, music, and humor.
 
Entertaining and erudite, Prendergast’s book will surely become the companion for all readers either about to reembark on Proust’s three-million-word journey or setting out for the first time.
 
Christopher Prendergast is a Fellow of King's College, Cambridge and a Fellow of the British Academy. He writes for the London Review of Books and the New Left Review. He is also the general editor of the Penguin reissues of Proust’s work, published in 2002.  

my thoughts:

What a delightful and entertaining read! I absolutely LOVED Living And Dying With Marcel Proust by Christopher Prendergast - it was such a treat to read!

Prendergast is THE Proust scholar to read. His work on Proust is insightful, erudite, and delightful. I was thrilled to receive a copy of his latest work. I couldn't wait to dive right in, so I grabbed a huge cuppa and settled down with my copy on a rainy day. And, I read, read, and read some more. I didn't stop reading until I reached the very end - it was just too good to put down. 

Focusing on Proust's beloved masterpiece, In Search of Lost Time, Prendergast uses the themes of living and dying to explore the topics Proust wrote about in his novel (love, food, music, etc.).  He looks at the way color is used throughout In Search of Lost Time, specifically the color pink.  He also looks at the way memory is captured within Proust's writing.  Prendergast goes all in and it is superb.  He writes about Proust's work with such clarity and passion, that you can't help but crave Proust's writing.  In fact, Living And Dying With Marcel Proust makes you want to read (or reread) In Search of Lost Time.  Yep, this book will make you want or read even more and it is awesome. I just love when books inspire you to add more books to your TBR pile - that to me is the mark of a great book. 

Definitely check out Living And Dying With Marcel Proust by Christopher Prendergast - it is a must-read! 

Thank you to Europa Editions for providing me with a copy of this book!