Marcel Proust, the French novelist famous for his monumental work In Search of Lost Time, had a life full of interesting quirks and unusual habits. 

The Ultimate Night Owl

Proust was a notorious night owl. He did most of his writing while tucked away in his bed, surrounded by pillows, and often worked through the night. He would sleep during the day and only emerge at odd hours. His bedroom was lined with cork to block out any noise, making it his own little cocoon for writing.

A Mountain of Madeleines

Proust’s most famous literary scene involves a madeleine, the small French cake that triggers a flood of memories in his novel. However, in real life, Proust didn’t seem to have such a fixation on them. Early drafts of the novel actually had toast and honey as the memory trigger instead of the famous madeleine, proving that even Proust was open to a little editing magic!

A Letter-Writing Machine

Proust wrote thousands of letters—some estimate that he sent out over 20,000 in his lifetime! These letters ranged from deep thoughts to trivial gossip. He was incredibly polite and obsessive about thanking people, often sending a thank-you note just for receiving a thank-you note. 

The Famous Questionnaire 

Have you ever heard of the “Proust Questionnaire”? This fun personality quiz, which is now a popular part of celebrity interviews in magazines like Vanity Fair, was something Proust filled out as a young man. The questions were about personal preferences, tastes, and dreams, and his thoughtful answers helped reveal his introspective nature. The questionnaire became famous as a window into his mind.

Hypochondriac Habits

Proust was a famous hypochondriac and had a delicate constitution. He often claimed to be suffering from a variety of illnesses, real and imagined. Proust was known to write long letters to doctors, describing his symptoms in minute detail. He also had a constant fear of allergic reactions, which made him reluctant to attend social gatherings (though he was famously introverted anyway).

He Wrote the Longest Novel Ever 

In Search of Lost Time (or Remembrance of Things Past) holds the Guinness World Record for the longest novel ever written. It spans over 1.2 million words across seven volumes! Despite its length, it’s celebrated for its incredible detail and depth, exploring themes of memory, time, and human experience.

Not a Fan of Fame

Proust lived much of his life in seclusion and didn’t seek out the spotlight, despite being one of the most influential authors of the 20th century. He preferred to observe society from the shadows, analyzing people from a distance and writing about them with profound insight. It wasn’t until later in his life that he became widely recognized for his genius.

Inspired by an Elevator Operator

One of the key characters in In Search of Lost Time, Charles Swann, is based in part on a real person—Alfred Agostinelli, Proust’s chauffeur and secretary. Proust was infatuated with Agostinelli, and his feelings for him were woven into the character of Swann, one of the most memorable figures in his novels.

An Epic Dinner

In his final years, Proust was invited to a dinner at the Ritz in Paris, an event so memorable that it later became the subject of an entire book. The meal, described in Dinner with Marcel Proust, was lavish and extravagant, filled with lively conversation between Proust and other cultural figures of the time. Although he was notoriously reclusive, Proust’s rare social appearances were legendary.

Writing on the Walls

When inspiration struck, Proust would sometimes scribble his thoughts not just on paper, but on any available surface—including the walls! During the later stages of writing his epic novel, he had so many ideas and revisions that he would paste bits of paper onto the pages and even onto furniture. His manuscript turned into a giant collage of thoughts.