1 January 2026

Newsletter of 1 January 2026

This newsletter was sent to SAMP members on 1 January 2026. Receiving our newsletters as soon as they are published is a benefit reserved for members whose subscriptions are up to date.

NEWSLETTER OF 1 JANUARY 2026

Ladies and Gentlemen, dear members,

I. Evening presentation of the book "The Irish Proust" - 15 January, 6.30pm

Niall Burgess, Ambassador of Ireland to France, has kindly informed us that members of our association are invited to a presentation of the recent book "The Irish Proust" (Bloomsbury), which discusses the influence of Marcel Proust on Irish literature, from Samuel Beckett and Elizabeth Bowen to Brendan Behan and John McGahern.

This presentation will take place on 15 January at 6.30pm, at the Irish Embassy, which has been housed since 1954 within the hôtel de Breteuil (12 avenue Foch). This residence was built in 1892 for Henri Le Tonnelier, marquis de Breteuil, a contemporary of Marcel Proust and the model for his character Hannibal de Bréauté-Consalvi. These connections are the subject of the foreword to the volume, written by His Excellency Mr Niall Burgess.
It is necessary to reserve your place (free of charge), as indicated in the attached invitation (click "confirmer votre présence", at the bottom right of the card).

II. Proustian news

In Proustian news, let us note:

- a short segment on France Inter about the connections between Proust and Henri Matisse

- an article by Etienne de Montety, in the Figaro, on the connections between Proust and the newspaper

- an article by Alix Tubman-Mary, on the En Attendant Nadeau website, about the recent editions of Proust's correspondence with his publishers

- a new interview on Fréquence Protestante in the series "Proust, Bagatelles", by Sara Fadabini, who hosted the philosopher Anne Simon on the theme: Proust, une pensée à l'épreuve du sensible

- an interview on France Culture with the actor and film-maker Nicolas Maury, in which he discusses his discovery of Proust's work and his admiration for La Prisonnière in particular (from 20')

III. Calendar of Proustian events

12 January, at the École normale supérieure, as part of the seminar « Papiers. Livres. Archives. Bibliothèques », a lecture by Yuji Murakami: Bibliothèque d'Orient, ou la journée charnière de Guermantes-Sodome

15 January: Presentation of "The Irish Proust" at the Irish Embassy (see above).

2 February, at the Bibliothèque nationale de France, as part of the seminar « Papiers. Livres. Archives. Bibliothèques », a lecture by Cécile Leblanc: « Ma mémoire toute remplie d'elle ». La carrière de Sarah Bernhardt dans les avant-textes de Proust et les écrits de Hahn, choses vues, choses jugées.

5 February, at 3pm, at the Société historique et archéologique des VIII et XVIIe arrondissements de Paris (28 rue Laure Diebold, Paris VIIIe), a lecture by Jean-Christophe Antoine, La Madeleine sans Proust. Un mariage mondain à la Belle Époque. Free admission

16 March, at the École normale supérieure, as part of the seminar « Papiers. Livres. Archives. Bibliothèques », a lecture by Antoine Compagnon: Proust exposé ?

18 March, at the hôtel Swann, as part of the "rencontres des amis de Proust": a presentation of the Musée Bonnat-Helleu, which has just reopened in Bayonne, by its director, Barthélémy Etchegoyen Glama

24 March, at the hôtel Swann, once again as part of the "rencontres des amis de Proust": a presentation by Philippe Blay and members of the quatuor Tchalik of a new recording of works by Reynaldo Hahn (including the Trio composed in part at Beg-Meil during his stay with Proust, in 1895)

Saturday 23 May: journée des aubépines at Illiers-Combray: a lecture by Laure Murat on Anna de Noailles, a convivial lunch at the restaurant, a piano recital by Philippe Cassard, readings from Proust's correspondence with Anna de Noailles by Ivan Morane.

Saturday 20 June: a pianola demonstration and Proustian readings at the musée de la musique mécanique in Dollon (Sarthe) (an event proposed to the association by Jean-Paul Henriet; further information to follow)

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


Also:

Until 5 January, at the hôtel Swann (Paris VIIIe), an exhibition of Proustian sculptures by Marlène Burget

Every Sunday until 26 January, 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.

Until 1 March 2026, at the Cité de la langue française (Villers-Cotterêts), an exhibition of manuscripts from the collections of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, including drafts by Marcel Proust.

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

With this young visitor to the Maison de Tante Léonie, fascinated by the magic lantern, the association wishes you an excellent year 2026, which we shall endeavour to make rich in Proustian events.

Jérôme Bastianelli

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Reminder: 8th edition of the pastiche competition

To celebrate the writer's taste for literary pastiche, the Société des Amis de Marcel Proust is launching the 8th edition of its Proustian pastiche competition.

As in previous years, the competition is open in two categories:

  • General category, open to all lovers of Proust;

  • Young category, reserved for participants under 25 years of age.

📅 Deadline for submission: 28 February 2026

You will find on our website all the information you need to take part. Good luck!