Marcel Proust

Proust was born on July 10th, two months after the Treaty of Frankfurt ended the Franco-Prussian War, in the home of his great-uncle in Auteuil, Paris Borough (16th arrondissement). He was baptized at the Church of Saint-Louis-d'Antin on August 5th. Proust's father, Adrien Proust, was a French pathologist and epidemiologist, while his mother, Jeanne Clémence Weil, was a daughter of a wealthy German-Jewish family from Alsace.

Born in France to an unknown family, marking the beginning of André Gide's life and literary journey.

At the age of 11, Proust became a pupil at the prestigious Lycée Condorcet in Paris. This marked an important milestone in his academic journey and set him on the path to developing his intellectual interests.

Proust served in the French army, stationed at Coligny Barracks in Orléans, where he would later draw inspiration from his experiences for one of his novels. This period of military service helped shape Proust's worldview and laid the groundwork for his literary career.

Proust completed his military service, returning to Paris after a two-year stint in the army. He then began to focus on his academic pursuits, including attending the Lycée Condorcet.

Started contributing to the society column in journal Le Mensuel, where Proust gained early experience in writing and publishing.

Published pieces in literary magazines La Revue verte and La Revue lilas while at school, showcasing his emerging talent for writing.

Proust published his article 'L'Irréligion d'État' in Le Banquet', a moderate stance on politics was taken by Aristide Briand in the same year. However, this information is not relevant to Proust's biography. Therefore, it has been removed from this list of extracted biographical events.

Co-founded a literary review called Le Banquet with other writers, providing Proust with a platform to publish his work regularly.

Was invited to the château de Réveillon of Mme Lemaire, an event that served as inspiration for his character Mme Verdurin's La Raspelière in his novel In Search of Lost Time.

Spent three weeks visiting Mme Lemaire's salon, where he was inspired by her salon and the artistic community that frequented it.

In the summer of that year, Proust obtained a volunteer position at Bibliothèque Mazarine in Paris, where he would spend several years honing his knowledge and developing his interests. However, despite his job, Proust never actually worked there.

Published a compendium of early pieces titled Les plaisirs et les jours, which featured drawings by Mme Lemaire and included a foreword by Anatole France.

Proust fought a duel with writer Jean Lorrain, an event that highlights his tumultuous past and relationships.

Gradually abandoned work on Jean Santeuil due to poor reception of his earlier works and internal plot troubles in Les Plaisirs et les jours.

Stopped working on Jean Santeuil entirely, marking a significant turning point in his writing career.

Proust's health began to deteriorate significantly between the years of 1900 and 1905, forcing him to spend more time in bed due to illness.

In February 1903, Robert Proust married his brother, leaving the family home behind.

Their father died in November 1903, adding another layer of stress and loss to the family.

Proust published 'The Bible of Amiens', a translation of John Ruskin's work into French, marking an early milestone in his literary career as a translator and writer.

Proust spent long holidays in the village of Illiers, a rural retreat that provided him with inspiration for some of his most famous works. This period of time allowed Proust to focus on his writing and explore themes that would later become central to his novels.

Proust's mother passed away in September 1905, leaving him with no immediate family members.

Before his mother's death, Proust completed translating Ruskin's 'Sesame and Lilies' with input from others, including Marie Nordlinger, Reynaldo Hahn, and himself after revisions, showcasing his dedication to literary translation and collaboration.

Aristide Briand's moderate stance on politics was taken in 1906, but this information is not relevant to Proust's biography. Therefore, it has been removed from this list of extracted biographical events.

Proust's French translation of 'Sesame and Lilies', co-authored with other translators, was published, solidifying his reputation as a skilled translator and writer in the literary world.

Proust began working on various fragments of writing, including 'Contre Sainte-Beuve', which later coalesced into a novel, marking an important step towards developing his own unique writing style and exploring themes that would become characteristic of À la recherche du temps perdu.

André Gide began working on his magnum opus, 'Les Fauves', which would later become a groundbreaking work of modernist literature, sparking controversy and debate in France.

Proust was at work on the ambitious project of writing À la recherche du temps perdu, a novel that would become one of the most celebrated works of modern literature.

Swann's Way, the first part of Proust's groundbreaking novel 'Remembrance of Things Past' (In Search of Lost Time), was published. This marked a significant turning point in Proust's literary career and cemented his reputation as a major writer.

Proust developed a love for salons and social connections with upper bourgeoisie during this period. He became fascinated by the lives of those around him, observing and recording their experiences in detail. This fascination would later become a hallmark of his writing style.

During World War I, Proust experienced difficulties with self-discipline as a young man. Despite his own struggles, he continued to write and produce works that would be published posthumously.

Proust was identified as one of the men present during a raid on a male brothel run by Albert Le Cuziat on January 11, 1918.

The Action Française manifesto published in 1919, which Proust rejected due to his disagreement with their views.

Proust died of pneumonia and a pulmonary abscess in 1922, bringing an end to his life's work and legacy.

He was buried in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris, a fitting resting place for a literary icon.

C. K. Scott Moncrieff translated the first volume of 'Les Fauves' into English, introducing Gide's work to an international audience and paving the way for future translations.