Simply Proust

In this fast-paced book, Jack Jordan condenses a lifetime of teaching and research on Proust into a lively and accessible format. Jordan introduces us to Proust, his family, and his friends, all the while taking care to explain and respect Proust’s own thoughts on the gap between life and work, between the social self and the hidden, creative self. Jordan inspires us to read, or reread, Proust’s novel, inviting us to ‘Take those long sentences and paragraphs as a surfer would big waves.’ Jordan brings out, in particular, the modernity of Proust’s novel: its love of speed, motion, and technology; its engagement with the latest scientific developments in physics, evolution, and psychology. — Jennifer Rushworth, Associate Professor in French and Comparative Literature, University College London, UK

Jack Jordan’s ‘Simply Proust’ is a perfect introduction to ‘In Search of Lost Time,’ one of the greatest novels of the 20th century, as well as to its author, Marcel Proust. After an excellent biographical section that connects Proust’s life to his work, it presents and analyzes the multiple facets of the novel in a compact and accessible fashion. ‘Simply Proust’ especially emphasizes the French novelist’s modern outlook and shows how his view of the world is closely linked to the scientific discoveries of his time. Yet, it also demonstrates how ‘In Search of Lost Time’ is a fascinating voyage of self-discovery for today’s reader. — Pascal Ifri, editor-in-chief of Bulletin Marcel Proust & Professor of French, Brown University

‘Simply Proust’ is an excellent introduction and guide to Proust's fascinating life and his monumental work ‘In Search of Lost Time.’ Themes such as love, jealousy, snobbery, voyeurism, and brothels, as well as characters in Proust's novel, are treated in an engaging, entertaining manner. Jack Jordan's book is a joy to read, full of interesting information, and is highly recommended. — Cynthia Gamble, Honorary Research Fellow, University of Exeter, UK

Professor Jack Jordan’s richly contextualized introduction to Proust revisits the intricate and quasi-mythologized relationship between the writer’s life and work in surprisingly lucid ways. From biographical facts through contemporaneous science and sociology to novelistic interpretations, these 11 highly accessible and introspective chapters enthrall the reader to embark on an exciting journey through the Proustian ‘space-time continuum.’ Simply Proust is written with considerable erudition, witticism, and poise, and is also sprinkled with practical tips for a literary amateur’s budding Proust pilgrimage. — Shuangyi Li, Research Fellow in French and Comparative Literature, Centre for Languages and Literature, Lund University, Sweden

‘Simply Proust’ pulls off with ease the arduous task of making Marcel Proust’s masterwork accessible, without sacrificing none of the complexity that makes it one of the most important novels of the 20th Century. To do this, Jack Jordan vividly paints vast the cultural, scientific, and philosophical background that fed ‘In Search of Lost Time.’ Armed with this knowledge, both new and repeat readers are bound to gain fresh insights into the brilliance of Proust’s novel. — Hervé G. Picherit, Associate Professor of French, University of Texas at Austin