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The Search Begins - Page One of Proust's In Search of Lost Time (Patreon)

Published:
2021-06-07 16:01:18
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. 

And the journey of four-thousand pages of Proust begins with:

For a long time I would go to bed early.

Today we're doing a deep reading of the first page of In Search of Lost Time together.

We're talking about therapeutic reading, different brainwave states, self-hypnosis and trance, unlocking hidden childhood memories, astral projection, and reincarnation. 

Video Timestamps:

  • 0:00 the journey begins
  • 1:00 how to approach In Search of Lost Time
  • 2:00 how Proust induces trance in you (pacing and hypnosis)
  • 3:00 a guide to different brainwave states (gamma, alpha, beta, theta, delta)
  • 6:00 an example of trance and hypnosis from Milton Erickson
  • 9:00 how to read Proust therapeutically
  • 10:00 unlocking your hidden childhood memories
  • 10:30 rereading and reading aloud
  • 11:30 why Proust is like travelling
  • 12:30 the value of looking things up (searching)
  • 13:00 the first critics of In Search of Lost Time
  • 15:00 reading the first page together (“For a long time I would go to bed early”)
  • 17:30 astral projection, lucid dreaming, and travelling the universe in one’s mind
  • 19:00 how to think in metaphor
  • 21:00 persuasion and logotherapy
  • 23:00 we are the reincarnated Marcel Proust
  • 28:00 why Shakespeare’s sonnets are a map/key to unlocking the Search
  • 30:00 recommended reading: Freud on jealousy, paranoia, homosexuality
  • 30:30 why the reader of Proust is like a jealous lover
  • 32:00 what was your impression of the first page of In Search of Lost Time?

Secondary Reading

1) Shakespeare's Sonnets - You may know that the first translation of the title into English was Remembrance of Things Past. This is taken from Shakespeare's thirtieth sonnet. Indeed, whilst it's not a faithful translation (In Search of Lost Time is better), Shakespeare's sonnets can form somewhat of a key or map to unlocking Proust. You might want to dip into them every now and then as we foray further into Proust.

2) Freud's 1922 essay on 'Certain Neurotic Mechanisms in Jealousy, Paranoia, and Homosexuality' - Freud was a great reader of literature, as well as one of the most interesting students of human nature, and this essay in particular, published the year of Proust's death, might inform your reading of the Search later down the line.

Let us know your experience with beginning Proust.

Happy Prousting!

Files

Previews only

The Search Begins - Page One of Proust's In Search of Lost Time

0:00 the journey begins 1:00 how to approach In Search of Lost Time 2:00 how Proust induces trance in you (pacing and hypnosis) 3:00 a guide to different brainwave states (gamma, alpha, beta, theta, delta) 6:00 an example of trance and hypnosis from Milton Erickson 9:00 how to read Proust therapeutically 10:00 unlocking your hidden childhood memories 10:30 rereading and reading aloud 11:30 why Proust is like travelling 12:30 the value of looking things up (searching) 13:00 the first critics of In Search of Lost Time 15:00 reading the first page together (“For a long time I would go to bed early”) 17:30 astral projection, lucid dreaming, and travelling the universe in one’s mind 19:00 how to think in metaphor 21:00 persuasion and logotherapy 23:00 we are the reincarnated Marcel Proust 28:00 why Shakespeare’s sonnets are a map/key to unlocking the Search 30:00 recommended reading: Freud on jealousy, paranoia, homosexuality 30:30 why the reader of Proust is like a jealous lover 32:00 what was your impression of the first page of In Search of Lost Time?

Comments

Thomas C

Salut fellow Proustians. I enjoy the contemplative pacing, makes me feel I might be able to catch up. The descriptions spark memories of my own hypnogogic adventures . Looking forward to page two!

Gem Esprey

Jumping in very late and really enjoyed watching the lecture (so much to unpick and learn) and reading everyone's comments. I read the first page this morning in my newly carved out Proust time (quiet house, teenage daughter left for school, husband in bed or at work depending on his shift, and 45 minutes before I have to turn on the computer for home working). I enjoyed the flow of the sentences and found it surprisingly easy to read. Like others have said, I picked up more on re-reading and then again listening to Ben read it too. I have recently started reading the sonnets slowly as part of the Shakespeare Project. I thought I'd start now so I can keep rereading them, focusing on 5 each week - so that was great timing to pick up Proust now. Like Danie's comment above, I wondered too about depression. The idea of wanting to go to bed early and fall into dreams to escape reality. I have always had vivid dreams - dreams even where I am not me. And often I have dreams where I believe I'm getting ready for the day only to wake up. I have also had vivid dreams after losing people - one specific example was a dream of finding my Nan in our old childhood garden in her night dress and walking over to hug her tightly and I could smell the washing powder of the fabric on her shoulder and feel its texture. Those kinds of dreams feel incredibly special and stay with me. In the spirit of looking things up, I searched up 'Combray' to find that although a fictional town, it was based on the town of Illiers. In 1971 (Proust's centennial of birth), they renamed the town Illiers-Combray!