In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower

Within a Budding Grove (1919) is the second volume of Marcel Proust's seven-part novel In Search of Lost Time. Written while Proust was virtually confined to his bedroom from a lifelong respiratory illness, Within a Budding Grove is a story of memory, history, family, and romance from a master of Modernist literature. Praised by Virginia Woolf, Vladimir Nabokov, Michael Chabon, and Graham Greene, In Search of Lost Time explores the nature of memory and time while illuminating the history of homosexuality in nineteenth century Europe. After years of admiring the Swann family from a distance, the narrator befriends the lovely young Gilberte. Through her, he gains access to her parents and their home, where artists and intellectuals gather to discuss their lofty ideals alongside the latest gossip. Despite his attraction to Gilberte, he finds himself enthralled with her mother, a careworn beauty so often ignored by her husband. As he grows and learns, he begins to recognize the reality concealed by convention: the secret liaisons between lovers; the petty competitions of artists; the fleeting nature of affection and lust alike. Written in flowing prose, Within a Budding Grove is a masterpiece of twentieth century fiction that continues to entertain and astound over a century after it appeared in print.
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Marcel Proust, born on July 10, 1871, in Neuilly-Auteuil-Passy, France, was a renowned French novelist, literary critic, and essayist. He is most famous for his monumental work la recherche du temps perdu (In Search of Lost Time), a seven-volume novel published between 1913 and 1927, which remains one of the most influential works of 20th-century literature. Proust's writing is known for its deep psychological insight, complex narrative structure, and exploration of memory, time, and social dynamics. He was influenced by writers such as Gustave Flaubert and Honor de Balzac. Throughout his life, Proust struggled with health issues, including asthma, which deeply affected his lifestyle and writing process. He passed away on November 18, 1922, in Paris at the age of 51. Proust's works have left a lasting impact on both literature and philosophy. He was the son of Jeanne Weill Proust and Achille Adrien Proust and had a brother named Robert Proust.