Swann's Way

By: Marcel Proust

Narrated by: Neville Jason

Length: 21 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Remembrance of Things Past is one of the monuments of 20th-century literature. Neville Jason’s widely praised abridged version has rightly become an audiobook landmark, and now, upon numerous requests, he is recording the whole work unabridged which, when complete, will run for some 140 hours.

Swann’s Way is the first of seven volumes and sets the scene with the narrator’s memories being famously provoked by the taste of that little cake, the madeleine, accompanied by a cup of lime-flowered tea. It is an unmatched portrait of fin-de-siècle France.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

Public Domain (P)2012 Naxos AudioBooks

Neville Jason’s sing-song voice is unbearable

I hate Neville Jason’s voice. It’s so disappointing that he reads so many great classics. I would love to hear Swann’s Way read by a better reader, such as Eduardo Ballerino. N. Jason’s voice is slightly less horrible in War and Peace, but still just awful. His women’s voices all sound like he’s making fun of the character. He blurs phrases together too sometimes. I hate it.

Swan’s Way

Pure poetry. A verbal description of impressionist paintings. Very amusing descriptions of Swann’s jealous love.

Excellent reader

This classic of literature is enhanced by the wonderful voice actor/narrator. This first volume is high on every list of Best Books of literature. While the descriptions of mundane events are extremely well-wrought, I feel that reading the book would prove a slow slog. How much better the audiobook because the reader propels the listener through the material. I love to listen while taking very long walks, and this format works perfectly in that setting. I do appreciate the artistic accomplishment of this novel, but may explore other titles before resuming the other volumes of this masterpiece. Enjoy!

The Master of Subtlety

Wonderful. wonderful narration once you get used to it, of Marcel Product's incomparable and unique opus.

Wonderful!

My only complaint: I wish he had slowed down the reading a bit when delivering the philosophical treatises. It's so much to take in one needs more time. Thank you to Neville Jason for his wonderful performance.

Writing and narration at its best

Any additional comments?

My encounter with Proust's great work commenced ten years or so ago, when I purchased a six-volume version in hardcopy. An acquaintance and I would commiserate with each other, from time to time, on our lack of progress; intimidated no doubt by Proust's reputation for long sentences.

Then at a sale I bought two volumes of a 12-volume (abridged) Naxos audiobook on CD. I fell in love with the audiobook and Neville Jason's narration. I was surprised to find that Proust is such a good writer that it was a good listening experience even with most of the book missing.

The next step I took was to subscribe to the audiobook online where I had to download the next section every ten minutes or so. I had access to the full abridged work and it was cheap. But it was very tedious.

An introductory offer ito Audible.com is allowing me to get the full unabridged version at a price I can afford and in a convenient MP3 format. Swann's Way is surely one of the great audiobooks; and that's just the first volume of seven.

Only Worth Reading When You Have Plenty of Time

Proust has much to say about relationships and the inner voice that so often guides one. He does so with beautiful writing and descriptions; however, I am discouraged from reading more at this time of the remaining books because it simply takes too much concentration, compared to what one learns. Tolstoy is more my taste. Great insights about Life and relationships, with excellent story telling. It is the later I certainly miss in Proust.

Descriptive story makes it like a dream

If I lose focus for just a moment, I will lose track of the story.
When we love someone, does we actually love the one or we love the idea of falling in love?
Why we always miss the past? Why "Good old days"?

Cross between Pretty Woman & Diary of a Wimpy Kid

I struggled to get into this one. but being an introvert myself, certain elements of the story definitely hit home.

story was ever more interesting when it revolved around the other main character, Swann. for that reason I'll go for the next book in the series.

Perfectly relatable 100 years later

A wonderfully written book that describes a life so close to mine in spirit, it's hard to decide between being elated or horrified.
Truly captures the physical and mental mesh that we call existence.
Definitely getting the next book in the series.

All things are lost to time.
I implore you to love each step.
Enjoy!
:D