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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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About this listen

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 Historical Fiction World Literature Fiction France

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Like many people, I am listening to 'In Search' in an attempt to catch up on reading I would like to have done when I was younger. I was warned it may be tedious, but decided to give it a go anyway. I have been trying to like it, but I am deterred by Neville Jason's reading. It is deeply irritating, and he sounds like a creepy vicar. I will try John Rowe's version, as the reviewers seem to be saying that it is at least less dreary than the Jason version. There are also unforgivable pronunciations of French words, such as "rams" for Reims (rather than the more correct pronunciation of "ra~s").

Holier than vous

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I have struggled many times over the years to make it more than 50 pages into this first volume of Proust's masterpiece. The time and attention to navigate my way through the dense prose was beyond me. This audio book has changed that. The masterful reading has made the long phrases and sentences clear and a joy to experience. The sublime skill and humane artistry of Proust shines clear through this reading. I feel my life has been enriched through this book and I have already bought the next volume. I cannot recommend this recording highly enough.

Excellent

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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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I have to admit, that I found the book initially a difficult listen. Like many others, I'd tried to read it several times in the past and failed. However, with perseverance I slowly felt myself become enveloped into the world of Marcel Proust and in particular, the life of Swann. A world thats joyous and sad and reminds us (just like Proust) how much we as individuals and society too have lost. I look forward listening to the next book in this magnificent work, again read by the incomparable Neville Jason !

A Melancholy Remembrance Of A Simpler Life.

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The wit, the brilliant representations of many realties, and the magnificent unveiling of human behavior, and more…

One of the best books EVER

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A fabulous reading of one of the great novels. It’s difficult, filthy, camp and brilliantly detailed and Neville Jason manages the ever-extending sentences and changes of pace wonderfully. Throughly recommend.

Extraordinary

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this was not my first encounter with this extraordinary book but it is the best. Nevill Jason brings a completely delightful freshness to the sometimes dense prose. Proust famously does often go off on one. But in this narration it just sometimes blends into his brilliant characterisation whether it is Françoise or the verdurans or the princesse de lomes. The only disappointment was his voice for Odette and to some extent Gilberte

This is just unmissable. The best audio entertainment around.

Onto the next


Five star delight

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

Classical excellence

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