Swann's Way
Swann's Way, published in 1913, is the first volume of Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time. It opens with the narrator lying awake, recalling the bedrooms of his life and the childhood summers at Combray when he waited for his mother's goodnight kiss; the taste of a madeleine dipped in tea brings the whole town back. The central section, Swann in Love, steps back a generation to tell how the elegant Charles Swann fell in love with Odette de Crécy, a woman not his type, and was consumed by jealousy. The volume closes with the narrator's boyhood infatuation with Swann's daughter Gilberte. C. K. Scott-Moncrieff's translation introduced Proust to English readers in 1922. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the first chapter free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Swann's Way
Swann's Way by Marcel Proust can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Swann's Way online?
Yes. Swann's Way opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Swann's Way free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Swann's Way is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Swann's Way in the public domain?
Yes. Swann's Way by Marcel Proust is a public-domain work, here in the translation by C. K. Scott-Moncrieff. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Swann's Way?
About 13 h 01 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Swann's Way?
Swann's Way by Marcel Proust is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
