One aspect though, over the course of the writing, which, while the story starts in I think around 1880, is written, I think between 1913 and 1926 (I’ll check Wikipedia) it thus covers the change of Parisian society into the Modern era. Of course, the entire romanticism of the Medieval age, as opposed to not just the then current Modern era but to the neo-classical is a major theme. I just mean the introspection is important, but are you sure Proust himself wouldn’t have been on FB today? There’s a funny part where he talks about staring at a blank page! Proust having writer’s block! Can you imagine?

But Proust the writer/critic was not only highly self-critical, he started by publishing short pieces in literary journals, as he writes about. So, where would that be today, Medium? Balzac is important as well, to understand the French publishing industry of the 19th century.

I found Proust’s On Art and Literature useful as well. I tried not to try and associate characters with artists or writers, but I think Bloch seems like Zola. In any event, I found ‘J’accuse' and other writings by Zola, chronicling his exile to England, he was also an amateur photographer, invaluable as a resource.

It takes a lot of effort to finish all the volumes, but it’s worth it, it changes you. I actually had to cut the leaves on my copies because no one had read them before! Such a shame.