Fundraising campaign for the restoration of Alfred Agostinelli's grave in Nice

The Société des Amis de Marcel Proust is launching a fundraising campaign for the restoration of the grave of Alfred Agostinelli, a key figure in the life and work of Marcel Proust.

https://souscription.amisdeproust.fr/fr/

Alfred Agostinelli, born in Monaco on 11 October 1888, is well known to Proustians as both the writer's chauffeur and private secretary. He notably glued paperolles onto the proofs of Du côté de chez Swann and typed up Le Côté de Guermantes I. Above all, he is the principal model for the character of Albertine in À la recherche du temps perdu. His departure from Proust's household inspired La Prisonnière, and his tragic death in a plane accident in May 1914 gave rise to Albertine disparue.

Alfred Agostinelli rests in Nice, alongside his mother, his companion Anna Square, and his half-brother, Étienne Vittore.

However, for several decades his grave has been in a state of complete neglect. Almost nothing remains today of the original grave, although some elements of the chapel may have been preserved. Since 1971, the town council of Nice, unable to find any descendant of Alfred's father, the holder of the grave's concession, had considered demolishing this ruined grave and transferring the remains to the ossuary.

It was thanks to the writer and researcher Jean-Marc Quaranta, in the course of his research for his book Un Amour de Proust, that the historical importance of this grave was brought to light. He obtained an extension to locate descendants. These descendants, although entirely unaware of their ties to Alfred Agostinelli and Marcel Proust, gave their consent for the restoration, but were unable to bear the costs themselves, as family ties had been severed since 1920.

Faced with this situation, the Société des Amis de Marcel Proust decided to act to preserve this unique heritage and to pay tribute to this friend so dear to Proust, of whom the writer said that he was, along with his father and mother, "the person he had loved most".

To take part in this restoration: https://souscription.amisdeproust.fr/fr/

As the Société des Amis de Marcel Proust is recognised as being of public benefit, donations received are deductible from income tax, up to 66%.

Thank you!