French Literature Reviews - 2026
A. Didierjean, The Madeleine and the Scientist.
Literary Theory, Linguistics and Stylistics
André Didierjean, The Madeleine and the Scientist: A Proustian Stroll through Cognitive Psychology
Paris: Seuil, "Science ouverte" series
2015
192 pages, 20 euros
Publisher's Description
"An impression is for the writer what experimentation is for the scientist."
Marcel Proust, Time Regained
Why do we sometimes feel as though we have already lived through the exact same moment in the past? Why do we find certain faces beautiful? Why does aging affect memory?
Cognitive psychology sheds light on our essential mental mechanisms: memory, learning, attention, and the sense of self. The recent discoveries of this rapidly expanding discipline are presented here through the lens of one of the major literary works of the twentieth century, that of Marcel Proust. Drawing on passages from In Search of Lost Time that illustrate, and even prefigure, certain contributions of modern psychological research, André Didierjean successfully fertilizes science with fiction, combining the highest literary writing with the strictest scientific objectivity.
This innovative book builds a bold bridge between science and literature.
André Didierjean is a Professor of Cognitive Psychology at the University of Franche-Comté (Besançon) and a member of the Institut Universitaire de France.
André Didierjean bridges the gap between empirical science and literary art by examining Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time through the framework of modern cognitive psychology. Placed within the tradition of interdisciplinary studies, the work connects literary intuition with rigorous scientific inquiry into memory, learning, and perception. It addresses enduring questions about human consciousness and mental mechanisms, making complex scientific concepts accessible through the lens of a twentieth-century masterpiece. This approach enriches the understanding of both artistic creation and psychological research.
This book is particularly useful for readers interested in the intersections of literature, cognitive science, and the humanities, as well as students and scholars seeking fresh perspectives on Proust's writing. By juxtaposing the writer's observations with scientific objectivity, the author illuminates how creative literature can anticipate empirical discoveries. The volume serves as a thoughtful guide for anyone curious about how the mind processes beauty, aging, and the illusion of déjà vu through both analytical and aesthetic viewpoints.