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Swann's Way

By: Marcel Proust
Narrated by: Neville Jason
Length: 21 hrs and 33 mins
4.5 out of 5 stars (79 ratings)
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Summary

Remembrance of Things Past is one of the monuments of 20th-century literature. Neville Jason’s widely praised abridged version has rightly become an audiobook landmark, and now, upon numerous requests, he is recording the whole work unabridged which, when complete, will run for some 140 hours.

Swann’s Way is the first of seven volumes and sets the scene with the narrator’s memories being famously provoked by the taste of that little cake, the madeleine, accompanied by a cup of lime-flowered tea. It is an unmatched portrait of fin-de-siècle France.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.
Public Domain (P)2012 Naxos AudioBooks

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Life, A User's Manual

To some extent writing about a single book in Marcel Proust's seven-part "À la recherché du temps perdu", more accurately translated as "In Search of Lost Time" but in Moncrieff's translation having the title "Remembrance of Things Past", is actually writing about the whole series. But since I am listening to the whole of it, I'll be writing about them individually as well.

I'm by no means unfamiliar with Proust, having read seven tenths of it in Finnish, my first language, in which it has been released in ten volumes instead of the original seven ("Swann's Way" is divided in two volumes, as is "Within a Budding Grove" and "Guermantes' Way"). It'll be, then, a nice experience to return to it and ultimately go all the way.

Proust's writing works wonderfully in the audiobook format. The way his language builds up, all the allegories and metaphors stacked upon each other and how the currents of thought swerve having been recalled by any minute detail, all this works beautifully when one reads the book but exceptionally well when one is read to. In this respect Neville Jason's narration is superb. He takes his time, not procrastinating but certainly not hurrying.

Equally importantly his reading brings out the humour in Proust. And what a hoot this book really is! The dinner party at Combray and a certain episode about complementing the wine brought by Swann is hilarious on page and is really brought to life when heard out loud. Many other instances work just as wonderfully, including the Verdurin episodes in all their glorious absurdity.

And then there's Swann himself and his love and infatuation for Odette. At the same time fervent, life-affirming, destructive and inescapable, the irrationality with which Proust paints Swann's actions, or rather, the movements of his soul, only reinforces the believability of his neurotic obsession. His story is framed by the Narrator's own insecurity in love, first toward his mother at Combray, then for Gilberte.

I know how I'll be spending my next credits.

14 of 14 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Unparalleled reading of a great book

If you could sum up Swann's Way in three words, what would they be?

Memory and time.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Swann - fascinating to see his character develop over the course of the book and how his relationship with Odette turns out.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

It would be invidious to choose. The book needs to be taken as a whole (and as part of the overall series). It is not just about "scenes", but interpretations and re-interpretations and linkages and philosophical and social musings.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

A long book (and series) so pacing is important. Audio allowed me to race (relatively speaking) through the whole series as I could listen while walking, on trains etc.

Any additional comments?

It deserves its high reputation. Some, but relatively few, longeurs once you accept the way the book unfolds and get into the flow which becomes addictive. The central themes are as relevant now as when written. I was not sure how I would take to Neville Jason after hearing the free taster. He rapidly grew on me and gives what I think is an outstanding, nuanced performance, with appropriate characterisation. Clear and warm diction, easy to understand and follow as complex, long sentences were worked through with sufficient forward momentum. His voice is now Marcel Proust for me!

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Mr
  • London, United Kingdom
  • 14-04-13

Hard going as an audiobook

This is undoubtedly a great classic, though one that requires patience and concentration. It's all in the detail and minutiae, the process of remembering and trying to capture fleeting impressions and feelings from the narrator's childhood and then the perspective of Swann. The canvas is small but the detail incredibly rich, like a Persian miniature, and for the audiobook, Neville Jason does a great job to narrate with unflagging passion and feeling over such a sustained period. I must confess, however, that I drifted off quite often, and found it hard to maintain interest compared to other books where a more muscular plot pulls you along without effort. On the upside, it's split into 10 minute sections so you can swallow it down like medicine once or twice a day before switching to something easier going.

9 of 10 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
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Without Peer

Tender-recollections-of-a-pristine-boyhood-whose-places-people-feelings-now-long-past-softly-flow-and-intimately-engage/frame-a-love-story-of-a-French-gentleman-of-perfect-breeding-caught-in-the-web-of-a-Parisian-courtesan-whose\generous-telling-and-penetrating-observation-of-late-19thC-social-mores-captures&hold&charms-over-this-novel-length-part-1-of-7.
Proust,-more-often-studied-than-simply-read,-turns-out-to-be-a-delight. Although-older-translations-are-available-free-on-youtube-this-investment-repays-handsomely.
Excellent-flow-in-English-retaining-just-the-right-amount-of-French-place-names-etc.
This-narrator-clearly-has-an-excellent-grasp-of-the-original-language.
Unfortunately-translation-cannot-reproduce-puns-etc-but-this-sensitive-narrator-makes-sure-we-get-the-gist-anyway.
Proust-occasionally-indulges-in-elaborate-sub-clauses,but-even-his-longest-sentences-are-quite-intelligible-in-this-edition.
Proust-has-a-remarkable-sensitivity-to-shades-of-human-sexuality-particularly-lesbian-highly-recommended.
This-narrator-captures-Proust's-non-judgemental-tone-of-humanity-in-relating-such-subjects.
I-listened-twice-and-feel-thrice-would-still-yield-fresh-pleasures.
This-narrator-deftly-&-consistently-reproduces-character-in-his-voicing-of-both-male/female/old/young-without-the-dreadful-slips-in-my-last-JRR-Martin-read.
Classics-of-literary-fiction-can-be-done-well-in-audiobook-format-&-I-struck-gold-here.
6-more-volumes-to-go!
Can't-wait!
Buy-this-using-monthly-credits-7-vols@-retail-price-would-break-the-bank.

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My opinion might change

My opinion might change after I have read the whole series, but at the moment I am not sure what all the fuss is about. This book is famous for not being read, and also for being recommended by teachers to their students, who almost invariably do not read it. Which is hardly surprising since all volumes in the series combined produce a mammoth text.

There are interesting things about it. The author uses a stream of consciousness style, which is quite unusual. What is also unusual is the way he seems to insert himself into a story that must at least in part be pure fiction, and you do very much feel that he is writing about himself, since the authors stream of consciousness often carries him to the innermost thoughts of other people, the narrative flowing seamlessly from one characters stream of consciousness to another's. This created a dreamlike effect.

Unfortunately it is a rather boring dream. However, the book does serve as a window. People writing in their own time and place have created time capsules, time machines, that let you visit a different mind. Other than that there does not seem to be much reason to recommend this book to anybody.

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Not for everyone, but beautifully read

If you want or need a 'story' or 'plot' of any kind, steer clear of Proust. A multilayered series of extraordinarily long sentences on the minutiae of memory, conversation, thought and human experience is what we have here. If you know what to expect this is an excellent reading.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Classical excellence

I was hooked by the end of chapter one. This book is so beautiful and eloquently written. Parisian chic at its best.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Dull, dull, DULL!

Tried 3 times to get past the first chapter; fell asleep twice and the third time I found myself screaming at my player. It felt akin to being stuck on a long haul flight sitting next to a double glazing salesman from Slough with a penchant for mid 20th century bus tickets.

2 of 6 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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No one can return my temps perdu

This hurt. After years of my philosophy lecturers and literary heroes hammering me to read this I thought I'd give it a try in audio form. After 10 hours (which beats most attempts in a page-to-hour comparison with most folks) I gave in. Its not hard or complex or dense. Its just painfully flowery and dull. Perhaps it was the smug brown tones of the narrator, but I can't accept that any great novel could include a whole repetitious section on how hilarious it is when someone forgets that its Saturday, or that any human (fictional or real) could really give that much of a toss about asparagus. Precisely how many auntie does this guy have anyway? And do the all have roughly the same personality, just as every male he knows seems to be surly?

I'd say I've wasted 10 hours, but I've saved myself a lifetime by knowing I won't read the other volumes.

1 of 4 people found this review helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Darwin8u
  • 24-02-13

Not a book one reads but inhabits & floats through

For years, I have put off reading Proust mainly because the size of In Search of Lost Time/Remembrance of Things Past seemed intimidating. Now, having finished Swann's Way: Vol 1, I feel a compelling need to keep going.

This novel is preoccupied with all the details that surround time, desire, love, memory, happiness, life, truth, names and relationships. It is vivid, detailed and reminds the reader to look, feel, grab, smell, think, confess, and take big risks to grow that one perfect, mystic blossom of love.

Proust's prose is beautiful, his imagery is brilliant and he seems to swing for the fence on every page. This is not a book one reads, but one inhabits and floats through. But first one must find and dip your own Madeleine.

Neville's reading is brilliant.

46 of 49 people found this review helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Nancy
  • 19-02-13

Stunning

Absolutely captivating and stunning. The narration is outstanding - a delight to listen to and extremely well modulated. Do not allow pre-conceived notions regrading Proust hinder your taking this most worthy journey...cannot wait to continue the series.

19 of 20 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Geoffrey
  • 21-02-13

Writing and narration at its best

Any additional comments?

My encounter with Proust's great work commenced ten years or so ago, when I purchased a six-volume version in hardcopy. An acquaintance and I would commiserate with each other, from time to time, on our lack of progress; intimidated no doubt by Proust's reputation for long sentences.

Then at a sale I bought two volumes of a 12-volume (abridged) Naxos audiobook on CD. I fell in love with the audiobook and Neville Jason's narration. I was surprised to find that Proust is such a good writer that it was a good listening experience even with most of the book missing.

The next step I took was to subscribe to the audiobook online where I had to download the next section every ten minutes or so. I had access to the full abridged work and it was cheap. But it was very tedious.

An introductory offer ito Audible.com is allowing me to get the full unabridged version at a price I can afford and in a convenient MP3 format. Swann's Way is surely one of the great audiobooks; and that's just the first volume of seven.

16 of 17 people found this review helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • David E. Gregson
  • 17-09-12

Neville Jason superbly navigates Proust

What did you love best about Swann's Way?

The narrator understands what he is saying and superbly navigates his way through Proust's endless sentences.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Swann's Way?

The dipping of the cake into the tea, of course. That is the "most memorable" because everybody who has head about the book knows about that scene already -- and almost nothing else about the 2,500,000 words in "In Search of Lost Time."

Which scene was your favorite?

All are superb and not to be forgotten.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Surely you jest! It's very, very long.

Any additional comments?

Recommended.

8 of 9 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Michael R. Lloyd
  • 21-09-12

Neville Jason brings this book to life

Would you listen to Swann's Way again? Why?

Yes - this is a story that is both easy to listen too and densely rich with detail. I read the entire Search of Lost Time over ten years ago and of course have forgotten much of it, so this audio version has been a great way to get reacquainted - and to discover meaning and significance that I overlooked the first time.

I know that each additional listen will reveal yet more meaning and connections between characters, places and events.

What about Neville Jason???s performance did you like?

Neville Jason has perfect pace and delivery. And most importantly for a book of this size and complexity, he has the talent and vocal dexterity to give each character a unique and engaging voice.

Any additional comments?

The text is the earlier translation, so can seem a little precious at times, but Neville Jason's delivery is so good that it stays fresh and alive.

12 of 14 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Amazon Customer
  • 20-08-17

Perfectly relatable 100 years later

A wonderfully written book that describes a life so close to mine in spirit, it's hard to decide between being elated or horrified.
Truly captures the physical and mental mesh that we call existence.
Definitely getting the next book in the series.

All things are lost to time.
I implore you to love each step.
Enjoy!
:D

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • P.N.
  • 27-05-16

Great narration for the male parts

One of the greatest books and on the whole well read. Horrible narration of all female parts though. Why does he make all women in this book sound like imbeciles? It is still worth getting despite this annoying issue.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • CHET YARBROUGH
  • 05-02-15

CLASSIC BOOKS

“Remembrance of Things Past” is referred to in Haruki Murakami’s recent book, “1Q84”, as a book that is rarely read because of its interminable length. It is chosen by Murakami’s bodyguard-character as reading material for “1Q84”’s female hero while she is hiding in a safe-house. One wonders why Murakami chooses “Remembrance of Things Past”. The answer is clear in “Swann’s Way”. “Swann’s Way” exemplifies the quality of classic books; i.e. readership longevity and life’s universality.

By telling a story, Proust is showing why and how people should be accepted for who they are; not whom one thinks they should be. Swann begins to see Odette as an independent human being; albeit a toxic companion for his life, but one that, if loved, should be loved for who she is, not what Swann thinks or wants her to be.

This interpretive insight, whether right or wrong, is an example of why Proust’s “Remembrance of Things Past” is a classic. A classic resonates in some way with whoever reads it, based on their human inheritance and life experience. Even if this critic’s insight is wrong, Proust writes beautifully, with detail and intelligence that are classic values in themselves.

5 of 6 people found this review helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Ian
  • 15-05-12

Beautiful........

So this is beautiful. The language is beautiful. The structure is beautiful. The narration is beautiful. But it gets really, really boring to listen to. Like being fed constantly on perfectly ripe strawberry's dipped in rich cream. Lovely for a while but then it starts to wear thin after a few hours.

I set out on this thinking, "Great - another classic to get under the belt" but while I made my way all the way through this volume I gave in halfway through the next. "Rememberance..." is clearly not for me. I listened fo 7+ hours to the story of a mans life and realised that at the end of it I could not care less what happened to him. I just found myself thinking that Twain or Hemmingway would have given me just as much information and just as much pleasure in about half a page and 5 minutes of narration. And yes - I know that makes me a philistine but I don't care.

The narration is very clear and a pleasure to listen to but the text is just too windy for my tastes.

35 of 47 people found this review helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Luvin Cocktails
  • 28-06-17

Excellent reading of V1 of "In Search of Lost Time

This is volume 1 in a 7 volume series comprising the entire novel "In Search of Lost Time". This volume describes the young narrator's childhood and introduces the artist's theories on sense memory in the famous Madeleine episode; it also includes the novella "Swann in Love" that introduces two major characters who become trapped in a dead-end love affair. Descriptions of childhood visits to Combray are especially enjoyable and evocative of a time past. Proust was a keen social observer and could really read people, so his descriptions bring characters to life.

Neville Jason's reading is a pleasure to listen to. He's a great voice actor, which makes it easier to identify the characters. it was quite an undertaking to read at 1.25 million words for all 7 volumes. (If all 7 volumes are not available when you read this, please put in a request for the missing volumes to Audible.)

Today, Moncrieff's title "Remembrance of Things Past" has been updated to "In Search of Lost Time", a better translation of the original French. Moncrieff's translation of what is perhaps the greatest twentieth-century novel was a work of art in itself, but the translation included some errors and is out of date. I recommend obtaining William C. Carters translation of this volume in paperback from Yale to read or browse when it becomes available, but this is still a great recording.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful