Begin with volume one
Start with The Way by Swann's and stay with the same translation sequence through all seven volumes.
Book Series · 7 Books
In Search of Lost Time Books
In order from Swann's Way to Finding Time Again.
Marcel Proust's seven-volume novel about memory, love, jealousy, art, and social life in France before and during the First World War.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read In Search of Lost Time
Read the seven volumes in sequence, from The Way by Swann's through Finding Time Again. They form one continuous novel rather than seven independent stories.
English titles and wording vary by translation. This page follows Penguin's modern seven-volume edition and shows each volume's translator so readers can keep a consistent edition if they prefer.
Sources: Penguin Random House's official In Search of Lost Time series.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
This is a long, stylistically demanding adult literary work with extended reflection and very long sentences. Its mature material includes sexuality and same-sex desire, obsessive jealousy and controlling relationships, social prejudice and antisemitism, illness, death, grief, and war. Historical attitudes and language can be uncomfortable, and the primary challenge for younger readers is usually the reading level and length rather than graphic action.
Where to start
Where Should a New Reader Start?
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$1900
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 18–+ · 1913
Swann's Way
By Marcel Proust, Lydia Davis (Translator)
A taste triggers memories, unraveling a tale of childhood and jealousy.
468 pages· 179,954 words· Est. 16.5 hour read
$20.00Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: In 'Swann's Way,' a young boy's world is vividly resurrected by a simple taste, weaving a rich tapestry of family, neighbors, and the complexities of love. As memories unfold, the story delves into the depths of human emotion and the relentless passage of time. What secrets lie in the past, and how do they shape the present? This first volume of Proust's masterpiece invites readers to explore the intricate dance of memory and desire, setting the stage for a profound journey through the human condition.
In reading order
In Search of Lost Time Series
7 books · Published 1913–1927
#1
Sale price
$1900
Swann's Way
Chapter Book · Ages 18–+ · 1913
A taste triggers memories, unraveling a tale of childhood and jealousy.
#2
Sale price
$2280
In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower
Chapter Book · Ages 18–+ · 1919
A young man's memories unravel love's complexities amidst Parisian and seaside backdrops.
#3
Sale price
$2565
The Guermantes Way
Chapter Book · Ages 18–+ · 1920
A young man navigates the dazzling yet shallow world of Parisian salons.
#4
Sale price
$2660
Sodom and Gomorrah
Chapter Book · Ages 18–+ · 1922
Jealousy and love unravel in a decadent society's twilight.
#5
Sale price
$2470
The Prisoner
Chapter Book · 1923
A man imprisons his love, fearing her freedom more than her captivity.
#6
Sale price
$2470
The Fugitive
Chapter Book · 1925
A man's quest for truth and self-discovery begins after a lover's departure.
#7
Sale price
$2565
Finding Time Again
Chapter Book · 1927
Amid war's chaos, Marcel seeks immortality through writing.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the In Search of Lost Time series?
There are 7 books in the In Search of Lost Time series. It began with Swann's Way in 1913, and the newest book, Finding Time Again, was published in 1927.
What order should you read the In Search of Lost Time books in?
Start with Swann's Way and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #7.
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring In Search of Lost Time to life.
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