{"product_id":"monsieur-proust-isbn-9781590170595","title":"Monsieur Proust","description":"Céleste Albaret was Marcel Proust's housekeeper in his last years, when he retreated from the world to devote himself to\u003ci\u003e In Search of Lost Time\u003c\/i\u003e. She could imitate his voice to perfection, and Proust himself said to her, \"You know everything about me.\" Her reminiscences of her employer present an intimate picture of the daily life of a great writer who was also a deeply peculiar man, while Madame Albaret herself proves to be a shrewd and engaging companion.\"Published in 1973, \u003ci\u003eMonsieur Proust\u003c\/i\u003e is a remarkable evocation of the spiritual sacrifices and flashes of grace that inform genius and those who serve it.\" — Hilton Als, \u003ci\u003eThe New Yorker\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"the housekeeper’s indispensable 1973 memoir\" — Benjamin Strong, \u003ci\u003eThe Village Voice\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"A fond and winning picture of the daily life of a great writer and  reclusive man, with his foibles, worries and kindnesses. This alluring  volume is as close as we can come to meeting Marcel Proust in person.\" — \u003ci\u003eSunday Telegraph\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Monsieur Proust\u003c\/i\u003e is moving, often unwittingly funny, [and it  conveys] something of the fabulous quality of an existence literally  held in thrall by Proust. The book is rich in concrete and, one feels,  authentic details that give an unprecedented and entertaining picture of  Proust’s daily life.\" — Germaine Brée, \u003ci\u003eThe New Republic\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\"…[a ] marvelous and compelling document…\" — Claire Messud, \u003ci\u003eNew York Newsday\u003c\/i\u003eCéleste Albaret (1892-1984) was born into a peasant family in the  mountainous region of Lozère, France. In 1913, she married Odilon  Albaret, a Parisian chauffeur, whose clients included Marcel Proust.  Odilon suggested that his new wife, who was lonely in the big city and  at a loss for something to do, run errands for Proust, and before long  Céleste found herself employed as the writer’s full-time (indeed  round-the-clock) housekeeper, secretary, and nurse, filling those roles  until his death in 1922. In later years, Céleste ran a small hotel in  Paris with her husband and daughter, and after Odilon’s death in 1960,  she became the caretaker of the Musée Ravel in the town of Montfort  l’Amaury. \u003ci\u003eMonsieur Proust\u003c\/i\u003e was published in 1972. In recognition  of her decade-long service to Proust, Céleste Albaret was made a  commander of the French Order of Arts and Letters. She died of emphysema  at the age of 92.","brand":"NYRB Classics","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46300002124005,"sku":"NP9781590170595","price":22.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781590170595.jpg?v=1767732914","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/monsieur-proust-isbn-9781590170595","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}