In Search of Lost Time - [volumes 1 to 7]

Marcel Proust, HB Classics

Summary

"'In Search of Lost Time' is widely recognized as the major novel of the twentieth century." —Harold Bloom
"At once the last great classic of French epic prose tradition and the towering precursor of the 'nouveau roman'." —Bengt Holmqvist
"Proust so titillates my own desire for expression that I can hardly set out the sentence. Oh if I could write like that!" —Virginia Woolf
"The greatest fiction to date." —W. Somerset Maugham
"Proust is the greatest novelist of the 20th century." —Graham Greene

On the surface a traditional "Bildungsroman" describing the narrator's journey of self-discovery, this huge and complex book is also a panoramic and richly comic portrait of France in the author's lifetime, and a profound meditation on the nature of art, love, time, memory and death. But for most readers it is the characters of the novel who loom the largest: Swann and Odette, Monsieur de Charlus, Morel, the Duchesse de Guermantes, Françoise, Saint-Loup and so many others — Giants, as the author calls them, immersed in Time.
"In Search of Lost Time" is a novel in seven volumes. The novel began to take shape in 1909. Proust continued to work on it until his final illness in the autumn of 1922 forced him to break off. Proust established the structure early on, but even after volumes were initially finished he kept adding new material, and edited one volume after another for publication. The last three of the seven volumes contain oversights and fragmentary or unpolished passages as they existed in draft form at the death of the author; the publication of these parts was overseen by his brother Robert.

Available since: 12/04/2022.

Print length: 1868 pages.

Other books that might interest you

The Fly Sermon and Other Odes

A.G. McDougall

For over forty years I�ve been writing odes about people, places, and experiences in my life. My career in education has been amazing and at times intense, but I managed to escape to hobbies and interests and always attempted to summarise in the form of an ode.

These were all placed in boxes and stored away until now. When I retired from teaching, I opened the boxes and read through the odes. They were almost like a diary of my life so far.

I�ve selected 21 odes for this collection. They are about friends, holiday experiences, hobbies and sometimes things that happened in my school life.

My favourite is The Fly Sermon. I wrote it 36 years ago for children to recite in their assembly about tolerance for others and non-discrimination. The theme is as important now as it was then. Our life is surrounded with all sorts of living things, which we should respect and learn to live with, regardless of quirks, traits, or physical features.

I�ll remember whenever a fly I do see,
The importance of living in close harmony.

Show book

150 Most Famous Poems - Emily...

Poetry House

150 Most Famous Poems: Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Walt Whitman and Many More" is a timeless anthology that brings together some of the most celebrated and influential poems in the English language. This collection features a wide range of poetic styles, from the introspective musings of Emily Dickinson to the narrative brilliance of Edgar Allan Poe, the vivid imagery of Robert Frost, and the powerful, enduring lines of William Shakespeare and Walt Whitman. Perfect for poetry lovers and newcomers alike, this anthology offers an insightful journey through the works of literary giants, providing readers with a rich selection of poems that explore themes of love, nature, life, death, and the human experience.

Show book

Theogony

Hesiod

Theogony by Hesiod is a foundational work of ancient Greek literature that offers a sweeping and poetic account of the origins of the gods and the structure of the cosmos. Written in the 8th century BCE, this epic poem serves as one of the earliest attempts to explain the creation of the universe and the lineage of divine beings that shaped Greek mythology.

Beginning with the emergence of primordial entities such as Chaos, Gaia (Earth), and Eros, Hesiod unfolds a vast genealogical narrative that traces the rise of the Titans, the dramatic conflicts among divine generations, and the ultimate ascendancy of Zeus as the ruler of the Olympian gods. Through vivid imagery and rhythmic verse, the poem captures the power struggles, alliances, and transformations that define the mythological universe.

More than a simple catalog of gods, Theogony reflects the ancient Greek desire to understand order, authority, and the forces governing existence. It explores themes of creation, succession, justice, and cosmic balance, revealing how divine authority is established and maintained through both conflict and wisdom.

Hesiod's work not only shaped the foundation of Greek mythological tradition but also influenced centuries of literature, philosophy, and art. Theogony remains an essential text for readers interested in mythology, classical studies, and the enduring human quest to explain the origins of the world and the nature of divine power.

Show book

Macbeth

William Shakespeare

A haunting tale of ambition, power, and moral corruption, Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare's most compelling and enduring tragedies. Set against the shadowed landscapes of medieval Scotland, this dramatic masterpiece explores the devastating consequences of unchecked ambition and the fragile boundaries between fate and free will.

The story follows Macbeth, a brave and respected Scottish general, whose life is forever altered after a prophetic encounter with three mysterious witches. They foretell that he will rise to become King of Scotland. Spurred by this tantalizing prediction—and urged on by the fierce determination of Lady Macbeth—he is consumed by a relentless desire for power. What begins as a spark of possibility quickly ignites into a blaze of ruthless ambition.

Driven by fear and hunger for the crown, Macbeth commits an unthinkable act that sets him on a path of bloodshed and tyranny. As suspicion and paranoia take hold, he descends deeper into violence, ordering further murders to secure his position. Meanwhile, Lady Macbeth, once resolute and unyielding, begins to unravel under the crushing weight of guilt.

In Macbeth, Shakespeare masterfully examines the psychological toll of wrongdoing. Themes of ambition, conscience, guilt, betrayal, and the supernatural intertwine in a tense and atmospheric narrative. The play poses timeless questions: Is destiny predetermined, or shaped by choice? How far will a person go to achieve greatness? And what remains of the soul when morality is sacrificed for power?

Rich with unforgettable imagery, poetic language, and dramatic intensity, Macbeth remains one of the most frequently performed and studied works in world literature. From the eerie chants of the witches to Lady Macbeth's chilling descent into madness, the play continues to captivate audiences with its dark beauty and profound insight into human nature.

A gripping exploration of ambition's destructive force, Macbeth stands as a powerful reminder that the pursuit of power without integrity can lead not to triumph—but to ruin.

Show book

Reflections in Poetry

Terry Still

'Reflection gives the brain an opportunity to pause amid the chaos, untangle and sort through observations and experiences, consider multiple possible interpretations, and create meaning' – Jennifer Porter

Life is an endless stream of experiences that impact the senses and leave indelible imprints on our memories.
The poems contained within this book are representations, through reflection, of the indelible imprints on Terry's life.
The poems are diverse in subject, covering many topics with inspiration taken from all facets of Terry's life, whether personal or professional. These include his passion for the history of all things mechanical, electrical and steam driven, the challenges faced as a single man taking on a ready-made family and the fears and ultimate joys that this brings, the ebb and flow of friendships throughout a lifetime and the personal impact of a Parkinson's diagnosis in the latter years of his life.

Show book

Applause - Poems

Carol Muske-Dukes

National Book Award finalist Carol Muske-Dukes explores joy, dread, and the solitary communion of applause
This audiobook is narrated using advanced digital voice technology for clear, natural-sounding storytelling.
Applause provides twenty vivid and evocative poems by Carol Muske-Dukes. In "Dream," she seeks the past in reverie, along with bicoastal riffs on New York City and Los Angeles. "The Eulogy" paints the scene of a funeral in sunny California where a young man who has died of AIDS is laid to rest. In the title poem, a twelve-part journey through the ritual of applause, Muske-Dukes examines the power of a gesture—clapping—to transform oneself from individual to communal. "What a strange phenomenon," she says, "to be single and plural at once, to feel joy and dread simultaneously, to wish to acknowledge publicly one's anonymity."

Show book