Proust: A Jewish Way

Exploring Proust's Jewish Identity 🇫🇷

Proust: A Jewish Way
Speaker: Antoine Compagnon, France
Date: Tisdag, 14 april kl. 19:00
Followed by mingling
Note: Presentation in English

When Marcel Proust passed away at the young age of 51, many obituaries noted his mother's Jewish heritage. However, Proust's connection to his Jewish identity was intricate and nuanced. Critics and readers of his renowned work, In Search of Lost Time, have often interpreted elements of self-hatred and even antisemitism in his depiction of certain characters.

In his thought-provoking book, Proust du côté juif, published in English as Proust: A Jewish Way by Columbia University Press, Antoine Compagnon confronts these prevalent misconceptions. He delves into Proust's interactions with his mother's accomplished and assimilated family, the Weils. Furthermore, he investigates how French Jews responded to In Search of Lost Time during the 1920s and 1930s.

By reassessing Proust's ties to his Jewish roots, Compagnon sheds light on French society at the dawn of the 19th century, addressing significant themes surrounding cultural differences, integration, and assimilation. Contrary to contemporary critiques, he reveals how many Jewish intellectuals and young Zionists revered and critically engaged with the novel, often regarding it as a point of pride in their Jewish identity. Additionally, Compagnon explores Proust's treatment of homosexuality and its connections to Jewishness.

Exploring Proust's Jewish Identity not only unearths the forgotten world of Proust's early Jewish readers but also enriches our understanding of this iconic novelist's work today.

About the Speaker:
Antoine Compagnon is a Professor of French and Comparative Literature at Columbia University, a professor emeritus at the Collège de France, and a member of the Académie française. He has authored numerous influential works on various literary figures including Montaigne, Baudelaire, Proust, and Colette, as well as topics in literary theory and cultural history.

This event is organized in collaboration with the Marcel Proust-sällskapet and is supported by the Swedish Arts Council, the City of Stockholm, and Stockholm Region.