The Cork-Lined Room is a blog devoted to the reading, discussion and study of Proust’s masterpiece of 20th century literature, In Search of Lost Time.
The site curator is Dennis Abrams. Write to him if you wish to participate.
The Cork-Lined Room is a project of PublishingPerspectives.com. It was originally launched in November 2009.
Hi, Dennis -
I’d like to participate in this project. I have never read Proust and always felt that it was a gap in my literary education. I found your page when a mutual friend, Lisa Grey, mentioned this site on Facebook. I’ve downloaded the Modern Library edition to my Kindle and am ready to start!
Hi Dennis, please sign me up or tell me how to do it. I want to use this email address, not the one at work. Thanks.
I’ve started the Davis translation of Swann’s Way and herewith commit to–at the very least–reading through this first volume. Thanks for the idea and the site.
I would liike to join this group. I have a copy of Lydia Davis’s translation–have wanted to read the entire work but have come sidetracked. This online project sounds interesting.
Hi all,
Nice idea; but I think it’s “a waste of time” to try and understand Proust’s work, if you don’t read it in French…of course, you’ll get some sort of an idea in translation, but the superb and mastery of the special long phrases, alliterations, stream of thought and colour and movement, and associative thinking (a sound evokes a colour evokes another sound etc) does get a bit lost in translation…
Now don’t cry out: “it’s too hard to try in French!” Believe me or not, I read it when not yet quite fluent in French, and the fact that i did not understand the exact meaning of a lot of words did not hinder the pleasure of reading through it; on the contrary,it made me aware of the “little music” that lies underneath the words… it’s a composition, it’s very much like music, or a painting, it should be read in the text…..just as Proust read the English writers in English, he himself greatly admired the british novelists! And he did take the trouble (dare i say time) to read them – in English…
With my kindest regards, and encouragement, and sorry pour la douche froide…. mais le temps perdu est le temps perdu, et pas the lost time. To be perdu in French.
Nicolette (not French, but almost)
Hello, Dennis and fellow Proust-readers!
I came across your site during one of my many online Proust searches. Dennis, I find your introductions pointed and concise, and your supporting material always helpful. Readers, your comments are cogent and a propos.
I’ve read ISOLT once through and now I lead a Proust reading group at the Barnes & Noble in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. We read only 10 pages per week (I didn’t want to lose anyone along the way!), and meet once a week to discuss them. I have begun to reference your site from the site I set up at http://readproust.blogspot.com/.
I appreciate how you’ve solved the page problem, as we’re reading from all four texts, as well as the French, which often adds to our discussions!
I look forward to continuing to follow along with you.
this was an old proust blog we made and then we never got round pursuing it.
http://thelawsofnightandhoney.blogspot.com/
i’d like to join when you’re at the last volume, this is my favourite.
Hi Dennis,
I’m trying to broaden my horizons here.Thanks for the invitation.
Dennis,
I would like to join. Thanks.
DLB
David: That’s great. Just post whenever you’d like…comments, questions, etc. If you have any long type essays or anything you’d like to post, send it on to me and I’ll post it for you if you’d like.
Dennis
Hey D,
Thanks for the invitational foray into the realm of Proust.
C.
Very cool site Dennis, how I look forward to sinning.
Must say, I will have to do some more reading on Proust.
Thanks
Simon
[...] still time to join us on our year long journey through Marcel Proust’s masterpiece, In Search of Lost Time. Within its pages, you’ll find [...]
Hi,
I have just started looking at ‘Paintings in Proust’. Is there a concordance available to link the index of painters and paintings to the two versions of ‘In Search of Lost Time’ that I have: 1949 C&W and 2002, Penguin Classics?
Best wishes,
Mike
Sorry Mike, I don’t think so.
Dennis,
I’ve been away from the novel for a couple of months (moving to a new city, work, etc.), but I’m excited to pick up where I left off…about p. 300 of The Guermantes Way. So I’ll post as I go along, even though most folks are way ahead.
Glad to be back. And thanks again for this wonderful site.
Rick
Rick:
Glad to have you back, and please…keep posting. Not everyone is on the same page, and your input and insights will be helpful to those of us who are into The Prisoner.
I just found that the new book Proust’s Overcoat is available on Amazon Kindle. The Kindle edition is not listed with the hardcover as is usually done (or at least I couldn’t find it).
I highly recommend the book. It’s a lovely read.
Hi, I hope I wasn’t being intrusive as I already commented on the last post but one.
I think your tenacity in navigating RTP this past year very admirable.
Have read RTP and even steered a reading group the second time around. So I know what happens in the end! But hey, I’d really like to join in.
You’re not being intrusive in the least — I WELCOME your comments!
Dennis