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Swann's Way

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Swann's Way

By: Marcel Proust
Narrated by: Neville Jason
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Buy Now for £19.78

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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 Classics Genre Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction World Literature Fiction
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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.

Without Peer

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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.

Not for everyone, but beautifully read

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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.

Hard going as an audiobook

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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!

Unparalleled reading of a great book

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The prose is beautiful: lyrical and laced with wry humour while the performance is pitch perfect at every moment.

An unexpected delight.

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