The Proust Questionnaire [Hardcover]

Henry-Jean Servat (Introduction), William C. Carter (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2, 2005

Marcel Proust s questionnaire is one of the best-known interview devices used in the media nowadays. Fun, intelligent, and concise, it reveals much of the personality of those questioned.

While the Maison Darel has recently purchased the original Marcel Proust questionnaire, Assouline Publishing puts forth a facsimile version that contains Marcel Proust s handwritten replies.

An introduction by Henry-Jean Servat, a long-standing member of the Friends of Marcel Proust Society, provides a historical account of the questionnaire, and a foreword by William C. Carter imparts the significance of Proust today.

In addition, the book includes questionnaires filled by important persons with various cultural backgrounds; people such as Peter Lindbergh, Marisa Berenson, and Richard Meier. Some blank questionnaires are also included at the end, making this book an ideal gift.

Editorial Reviews

Review

At the age of 20, Marcel Proust put his own psyche under the microscope by answering questions meant to reveal one s innermost thoughts. --Vanity Fair

Product Details

• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Assouline (May 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 2843236711
• ISBN-13: 978-2843236716
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,057,248 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stepping inside the mind of Marcel Proust: An Inquiry, December 5, 2006

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Proust Questionnaire (Hardcover)

Marcel Proust is still somewhat of an enigma from the past century. A man whose hefty multi-volume opus 'A la Recherche Du Temps Perdu' continues to delight, puzzle, stimulate all the arts even today, Proust has had many biographies and treatises written but few supply the sheer pleasure of this perfectly designed little volume.

In Proust's time he had two questionnaires, separated by time, but similar in content, questionnaires he responded to allowing the reader to discover his psychological fears and fantasies as well as his favorite poets, writers, painters, composers, fears, embarrassing moments etc. This artfully designed volume presents copies of those questionnaires, both in Proust's handwritten responses in French in type set English form. But the pleasure of this idea doesn't stop there.

After a learned introduction by Henry-Jean Servant as to the manner in which the original questionnaires were used, William C. Carter relates the importance of Proust's influence on the arts that followed his death and the myriad films, books, studies, and conversations that continue. Then the creators of this colorful book placed the questionnaires in the hands of a number of interesting celebrities including Alain du Buton, Brigitte Bardot, Marisa Berenson, Richard Meier and Peter Lindbergh.

THEN the book opens Proust's game to the reader, supplying pages of questionnaires to pass among friends and guests in a party game for the intellect. The book makes a delightful curiosity for dinner parties, but it is the writing of the creators including the responses by Proust himself that make this book one to own. Grady Harp, December 06

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS WILL MAKE YOU THINK, November 9, 2006

By 

G. Portnoy "babs" (minneapolis,mn) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Proust Questionnaire (Hardcover)

NOT ONLY IS THIS INTERESTING FOR THE READER BUT IT MAKES A GREAT CONVERSATION PIECE FOR A GROUP.VERY THOUGHT PROVOKING.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous, December 30, 2008

By 

L. Hackett "Myrtle" (St Paul, MN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Proust Questionnaire (Hardcover)

My family and I had the best time filling out the questionnaire on Christmas. It will be the most memorable event for us Xmas 2008. I highly recommend this book.