Letters to His Neighbor
Letters to His Neighbor by Marcel Proust, published by New Directions Publishing Corporation on November 5, 2024, is a collection of correspondence that showcases Proust’s unique ability to articulate his experiences of discomfort and frustration. This edition, comprising 112 pages, presents a series of letters primarily addressed to Mme Williams, the wife of his upstairs neighbor, Dr. Williams, a dentist whose practice exacerbates Proust’s struggles with noise in his living space. The letters reveal Proust’s humorous and gracious approach to expressing his grievances, blending wit with eloquence.
Readers will find a rich exploration of Proust’s thoughts on neighborly relations, as he navigates the challenges posed by his living situation. The correspondence is not only a reflection of his personal struggles but also a commentary on the complexities of social interactions. Enhanced by facsimile letters and photographs, this collection delves into themes of biography and literary history, providing insight into the life of one of literature’s most notable figures. Letters to His Neighbor is a valuable addition for those interested in Proust’s literary contributions and the nuances of his correspondence.
Official synopsis Publisher
Marcel Proust’s genius for illuminating pain is on spectacular display in this recently discovered trove of his correspondence, Letters to His Neighbor. Already suffering from noise within his cork-lined walls, Proust’s poor soul was not ready for the fresh hell of his new upstairs neighbor, Dr. Williams, a dentist with a thriving practice directly above his head.
Chiefly to Mme Williams, these ever-polite letters (often accompanied by flowers, books, or compliments) are frequently hilarious–Proust couches his pained frustration in gracious eloquence. In Lydia Davis’s hands, the digressive brilliance of his sentences shines: “Don’t speak of annoying neighbors, but of neighbors so charming (an association of words contradictory in principle since Montesquiou claims that most horrible of all are 1: neighbors and 2: the smell of post offices) that they leave the constant tantalizing regret that one cannot take advantage of their neighborliness.” Richly illustrated with facsimile letters and photographs, Letters to His Neighbor is catnip for lovers of Proust.
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