Proust's Overcoat

August 1, 2010

How fitting that Marcel Proust, perhaps the greatest writer on memory, spawned this book, and others, on memories of himself! Italian journalist Foschini (Radiotelevisione Italiana; Investigation at Millennium's End) here traces the obsession of French collector Jacques Guerin to hunt down anything left by Proust that was not claimed by heirs. Among his startling finds over the years was Proust's overcoat, the "ultimate relic." Though some might chide the collector, who died in 2000, for hoarding his many treasures (he donated Proust's furniture and personal effects, including the overcoat, to Paris's Musee Carnavalet), Foschini points out that Guerin rescued from oblivion or destruction many objects, including letters, notebooks, an early edition of A la recherche du temps perdu, and personal artifacts. She also provides a harrowing account of the efforts of Proust's sister-in-law, Marthe, to destroy any trace of the writer's life that might dishonor the family's name. The translation by Karpeles (Paintings in Proust) is seamless. VERDICT This reviewer belonged to a group that read only Proust; we called ourselves the Proustitutes. Proust's Overcoat is urgently recommended to Proustitutes wherever you are.--Edward Cone, New York

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