French Literature Reviews - 2026

Anna Isabella Squarzina, Proust au présent. Étude des déictiques dans À la recherche du temps perdu
Literary Theory, Linguistics and Stylistics

Anna Isabella Squarzina

Proust au présent. Étude des déictiques dans À la recherche du temps perdu

Paris, Classiques Garnier, Bibliothèque proustienne, 2023

It may seem paradoxical to devote a study of the *Recherche* to the adverb "now" and to Proustian deixis. Yet, in narrating psychological time, the use of deictic markers is displaced, and their systematic and recurring deployment helps shape the unique quality of the Proustian voice.

Table of Contents…

Deixis encompasses linguistic elements such as pronouns and adverbs like now and here that anchor an utterance directly to the speaking subject and the exact moment of discourse. In the context of narrative prose and modernist fiction, examining these markers sheds light on how authors manipulate temporal perspective and create the illusion of immediacy. This volume contributes to ongoing discussions in stylistic analysis and narratology, focusing specifically on the intricate linguistic mechanisms that govern Prousts monumental novel and sustain its distinctive aesthetic.

This scholarly monograph will particularly interest students of French literature, linguists, and researchers dedicated to Proustian studies. It offers valuable tools for analyzing how grammatical choices reflect broader philosophical concerns regarding memory, subjectivity, and the passage of time. By treating the deployment of deictics not merely as a technical detail but as a fundamental dimension of the Proustian voice, the author enriches our understanding of modern literary style and the mechanics of autobiographical fiction.