A new translation of Proust's novel "Combray" (that's the name of the first part of the first volume) from the series "In Search of Lost Time" refutes the sadly established opinion that Proust is a venerable, intellectual, but boring author. Proust is a sophisticated researcher of snobbery, his book is a real psychological treatise on homosexuality, a study of jealousy, an analysis of anti-Semitism. He encroached on all values: friendship, love, worship of art, family joys, piety, loyalty and devotion, patriotism. His cycle is a subversive work in many respects. "Combray" is often published separately - all the themes of the novel are stated here, almost all the main characters appear, it is a solid text that can be read independently of the continuation.

Translator E. V. Baevskaya is known for her bold decisions: her translations revive interest in long-existing texts in Russian, for example, Rostand’s “Cyrano de Bergerac”; she turns to complex figures of the 20th century - S. Beckett, E. Ionesco, and to the risky novels of the past - "Mademoiselle de Maupin" by Gautier. The translation of "Combray" was made according to a new academic edition of Proust, in which the author's versions, unknown to readers of previous Russian translations, were restored. After the restored French text appeared, Proust began to be translated again in America, Germany, Italy, Japan and China. Now we have such a translation.