The Thumbnail Book Reviews
by John Q McDonald --- 28 June 2006
by Roger Shattuck
A noted American scholar and critic of 20th century French literature, Roger Shattuck also won a 1975 National Book Award for Marcel Proust, so one would expect he knows whereof he speaks in this brief but in-depth introduction to Proust's greatest work. The thoughtful and patient reader will not be disappointed. This book is, indeed, a fantastic literary consideration of Proust, a critique of some of the history of A la Recherche du Temps Perdu (this title's modern English translation is In Search of Lost Time) and the response it has garnered over the years. Shattuck has a deep understanding of the complex and intricate themes of Proust's novel. He assumes from the start that the reader is as fascinated by these themes as he is. After all, why undertake the time and effort Proust requires if you don't like it?
So, the book, while extraordinarily useful as a compendium of Proust's ideas, might not be the kind of general introduction readers might want if they have just decided to pick up Proust out of curiosity. There is no doubt that it helps to have read at least some of the Search before reading Shattuck's critique. Familiarity with Proust's style and his obsessions works to the reader's advantage. Once that is out of the way, one can become engrossed in Shattuck's alternate subtlety and chatty conversation. That alternating structure might stem from the fact that Shattuck has assembled here some new writings along with a selection of previous essays and books on Proust. The result is somewhat uneven, but it never wavers from a certain fascination. His writing is accessible and intelligent. He illuminates much of the mystery of Proust's work, and brings to life its complex humanity and even humor. Through a half dozen chapters in this desceptively short book, Shattuck approaches Proust's style and structure, the prevalence of optical effects in the novel, his comedic sensibility, his obsessions with dreams, snobbery, memory, aristocracy, sex, and love. Shattuck also critiques other critiques of the book, and places the literary phenomenon of Proust's novel into a kind of psychological, literary and historical context. He also examines Proust's placement in our culture today, looking at the problem of translation, the largely unsuccessful film versions, its daunting length, and its brutalization as a literary landmark. There are some excesses of style here, but, for readers of Proust, and for serious readers preparing to undertake the Search, this book is an absolute must-read.