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27 March 2026

Newsletter of 27 March 2026

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This newsletter was sent to SAMP members on 27 March 2026. Receiving our newsletters as soon as they are published is a benefit reserved for members whose subscription is up to date.

NEWSLETTER OF 27 MARCH 2026

Ladies and Gentlemen, dear members,

Unless we are mistaken, you have not yet renewed your membership for 2026.
If you would like to do so, you may visit:

- our HelloAsso page;

- our online shop;

- our website (particularly for payments by bank transfer).

The support of all our members is essential to sustaining the association and the Musée Marcel Proust - Maison de Tante Léonie.

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I. The Maison de Tante Léonie invites Prix Goncourt laureates Laurent Mauvignier and Pierre Lemaitre

A new literary series is beginning at the Maison de Tante Léonie, with an invitation extended to two prix Goncourt laureates.

On Saturday 27 June, at 3pm, Laurent Mauvignier (prix Goncourt 2025) will come to present and sign copies of "La Maison vide", whose theme resonates with our museum.

On Saturday 12 September, at 3pm, Pierre Lemaitre (prix Goncourt 2013) will come to present his books, and in particular his latest novel, "Les belles promesses".

We warmly thank them for the interest they take in our museum and hope to see many of you at these events.

II. Pastiches received for the 8th competition

Eighteen pastiches (14 in the "general" category, 4 in the "under-25" category) were received for the 8th edition of our competition.

Three prizes will be awarded in each category, including the "members' prize".

The pastiches can be viewed on our website: /assets/actualites/archive-ancien-site/docspdf-dossierpastiches20252026.pdf

If you would like to vote for the "members' prize", simply send an email, before 15 April, to contact@amisdeproust.fr

III. Registration for the pianola demonstration at Dollon - 20 June

Registration for the visit to the musée de la musique mécanique at Dollon (Sarthe), on Saturday 20 June, is now open:

https://www.helloasso.com/associations/societe-des-amis-de-marcel-proust/evenements/visit-du-musee-de-la-musique-mecanique-a-dollon

Participants will meet at the entrance to the museum at 2pm. Unfortunately, we are not able to arrange group transport from Paris.

This visit, which will include a demonstration of a pianola similar to the one owned by Marcel Proust, has been arranged for us by Jean-Paul Henriet, former mayor of Cabourg and member of our board.

IV. Proustian news

In publishing news, the following releases are worth noting:

- the publication, by Classiques Garnier, of a new volume of the Revue d'Études Proustiennes, Proust et la Mort , edited by Thomas Klinkert, Wolfram Nitsch and Jürgen Ritte;

- the publication (on 2 April), by Éditions Kimé, of an essay by Christine Brusson on Marcel Proust's text La Mort des cathédrales.

In the interest of completeness, we should also mention the publication of À la découverte du paradis perdu, par l'esprit de Marcel Proust, by Mona Fioretto, a medium, published by Éditions de l'Onde.

V. Calendar of Proustian events

27 March, 10 April, 22 May, 19 June, by video-conference, from 3.30pm to 5.30pm, seminar on the editing of Proust's correspondence, organised by Françoise Leriche and open to all (link for the video-conference)

31 March, at 6.30pm, at the town hall of the 11th arrondissement of Paris, a lecture by Jean-Yves Tadié, "Les Villes thermales dans la Littérature"

31 March, at 5.30pm and 7pm, at the Cité de la musique in Soissons, alecture by Luc Fraisse followed by a concert with readings from Proust by Didier Sandre

10 April, 5 June: visit to 102 Bd Haussmann (fully booked - further dates may be offered in the autumn; we are sorry not to have been able to accommodate all requests)

Thursday 16 April, at the hôtel Swann, as part of the "rencontres des amis de Proust": presentation by Natalie David-Weill of her book on Irène Cahen d'Anvers (see above)

Saturday 9 May, at the Cité de la langue française (Villers-Cotterêts): a lecture by Luc Fraisse, La langue subtile de Proust peut aller jusqu'au franc-parler, followed by a performance by Denis Podalydès, Un humour de Proust

Saturday 23 May: journée des aubépines at Illiers-Combray: a lecture on Anna de Noailles by Françoise Breuillaud Sottas, historian, curator of the exhibition on Anna de Noailles shown at Evian in 2019, lunch, a piano recital by Philippe Cassard, readings from Proust's correspondence with Anna de Noailles by Ivan Morane.

29 May: a study day on Pélerinages proustiens organised at the École Normale Supérieure by Christophe Pradeau

Saturday 20 June: pianola demonstration at the musée de la musique mécanique in Dollon (Sarthe) (see above)

Saturday 27 June, 3pm: meeting at the Maison de Tante Léonie with Laurent Mauvignier, prix Goncourt 2025

Saturday 12 September, 3pm: meeting at the Maison de Tante Léonie with Pierre Lemaitre, prix Goncourt 2013


Also:

Every Sunday until 12 April, at the théâtre Essaïon (Paris), the show Proust en clair, by Jacques Mougenot. The theatre is offering SAMP members a reduced rate of €15 (instead of €25). To do so, please book either by email at the following address: essaionreservations@gmail.com, or by telephone on 01 42 78 46 42, quoting the code MADELEINE.

Cynthia Gamble will give a lecture in English, in Amsterdam, on 11 April, on Marie Nordlinger, at the invitation of the société néerlandaise des amis de Marcel Proust.

From 21 May to 27 September, at Tate Britain (London), an exhibition on James McNeill Whistler

28 and 29 September, in Barcelona, a conference on Marcel Proust et les langues minoritaires ou minorées, organised by ARIPIC and the société catalane d'amis de Marcel Proust

VI. Election of the new mayor of Illiers-Combray

Following the municipal elections of 15 March, Olivier Bariéty was elected mayor of Illiers-Combray.

He is the grandson of Maurice Bariéty, a professor of medicine from Illiers-Combray, who wrote several articles on Proust and medicine. At the unveiling of a commemorative plaque in honour of Adrien Proust, in 1966, Maurice Bariéty gave a speech which was published in our annual Bulletin.

We offer our warmest congratulations to the new mayor and look forward to working with him to strengthen the relationship between the Musée Marcel Proust and the town. Our congratulations also go to the whole municipal council, and in particular, among its members, to Bruno Saillant, a member of our board.

We take this opportunity to thank Bernard Puyenchet, the outgoing mayor, who was not standing for re-election, for the support he gave us during his two terms.

One final piece of news before we close: the association has just opened a LinkedIn account where you will find various updates.

As usual, in the previous letter (13 March) you will find other information, some of which is still relevant.

Yours faithfully,

Jérôme Bastianelli

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