Marcel PROUST Signed Autograph Letter 1913

  

Slnd [Thursday, April 10, 1913] - Letter published in the correspondence Kolb, volume XII, pages 130-131. A lovely letter from Marcel Proust to his friend Georges de Lauris following the death of the latter's uncle, Jules-Edouard de Wynckele. Georges de Lauris was part of the group known as the "young dukes," who exchanged much with Proust and spent evenings in his room. He was an intimate friend and contributed some traits to the character of Robert de Saint-Loup. We are just a few months away from the publication of "Du Coté de chez Swann" on November 14, 1913.

Proust is then in the countless corrections of the first volume of "À la recherche du temps perdu." This letter is quite characteristic of the essence of Proust's reflections in the Recherche; it reflects on time, memories, and their embodiments. Attached is the death notice of Jules-Edouard de Wynckele (1850-1913).

I thought a lot about you upon learning of the death of your uncle. I believe he was your mother's brother, and because of that, he must have been somewhat of a keeper of a thousand memories, even memories from the time when your mother was not yet your mother. Perhaps even in certain physical traits he reminded you of her.

Perhaps you also think of the sorrow she would have felt (though undoubtedly her greatest sorrow was if she knew she was leaving you and that you would be so unhappy). Finally, Georges, there is not a single one of the feelings you may have experienced that my anxious and ill-informed tenderness has not felt. Please convey my respectful regards to Madame de Lauris and to your father.