“An impeccably researched and well-paced narrative that brings vividly and credibly to life not only the writer himself but also the changing world he knew.”—Roger Pearson, New York Times Book Review “Serious, thoughtful, well-balanced, well-informed. . . . Carter is the kind of reader Proust hoped for, one who understands that a great work compels us to become better ... Read morereaders of ourselves.”—Victor Brombert, Los Angeles Times “Carter’s greatest contribution to date . . . [a] towering biography of Proust, meticulously researched and accessibly written.”—Adam Watt, H-France Review Praise for the First Edition:   “Diligently researched and written . . . with a probing intelligence worthy of its complex subject. . . . Carter brings to life not only Proust but his times: the Parisian belle epoque of artistic ferment, affluence, and joie de vivre. Sarah Bernhardt, Andre Gide, Claude Debussy and Jean Cocteau make their interesting appearances.”—Dan Hulbert, Chicago Tribune   “William Carter’s judicious and comprehensive biography tells a story whose structure closely corresponds with its subject’s masterpiece.”—Lucy Hughes-Hallet, Sunday Times   “Carter does a marvelous job of keeping this multitude of mini-events moving along and of keeping our sympathies engaged with the (after all) admirable Marcel. . . . Rewarding; it’s safe to say that every Proustian will be entertained by Carter.”—George Scialabba, Boston Sunday Globe   “An even-handed down-to-earth biography of one of the most finely tuned novelists of all time. Carter documents everything, exaggerates nothing, and keeps the vivid story moving.”—Roger Shattuck Show Less