Proust's Lesbianism

by Elisabeth Ladenson

For decades, Elisabeth Ladenson says, critics have misread or ignored a crucial element in Marcel Proust's fiction―his representation of lesbians. Her challenging new book definitively establishes the centrality of lesbianism as sexual obsession and aesthetic model in Proust's vast novel A la recherche du temps perdu . Traditional readings of the Recherche have dismissed Proust's "Gomorrah"―his term for women who love other women―as a veiled portrayal of the novelist's own homosexuality. More recently, "queer-positive" rereadings have viewed the novel's treatment of female sexuality as ancillary to its accounts of Sodom and its meditations on time and memory. Ladenson instead demonstrates the primacy of lesbianism to the novel, showing that Proust's lesbians are the only characters to achieve a plenitude of reciprocated desire. The example of Sodom, by contrast, is characterized by frustrated longing and self-loathing. She locates the work's paradigm of hermetic relations between women in the self-sufficient bond between the narrator's mother and grandmother. Ladenson traces Proust's depictions of male and female homosexuality from his early work onward, and contextualizes his account of lesbianism in late-nineteenth-century sexology and early twentieth-century thought. A vital contribution to the fields of queer theory and of French literature and culture, Ladenson's book marks a new stage in Proust studies and provides a fascinating chapter in the history of a literary masterpiece's reception.

Genres: Nonfiction, Lesbian, Literary Criticism

160 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1999

Reviews

[June Amelia Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

a really great text on proust's book and dispels many rumors and misreadings of some of proust's grandest themes and characters. i only wish it were longer and went into more depth with certain scenes and characters. the final essay and conclusion with the grandmother lost me a bit. in any case, recommended critical text for anyone reading proust and falling into the "genderswap" theory of the book, as it refutes that for the most part.

[Olivia D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you are one volume in, four volumes in, have finished all of "In Search of Lost Time", or have yet to begin, this book is a completely wonderful way to add great layers of depth to your understanding of the gendered relationships in Proust.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

This discussion of lesbianism in Proust's great novel is a bit hard going. Some interesting points made but I confess some of it went over my head, and I feel even more confused about the author's represntation of lesbianism in the novel than I did before! For hardcore Proust fans only.

[Katja · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short book, which some reviewers categorize as being for "hard-core Proust fans," might seem like an unusual choice. However, I disagree. "In Search of Lost Time" is a complex novel exploring several recurring themes, but these themes aren't always presented explicitly. A little help in navigating them can be invaluable. Just as a history refresher enhances our understanding of the societal nuances, and an art book enriches our appreciation of volumes 1 and 2, Elisabeth Ladenson's "Proust's Lesbianism" offers crucial insights into a central, yet often perplexing, aspect of the narrative: the Narrator's obsessive focus on Albertine's bisexuality. This isn't a minor detail; it dominates volumes 5 and 6 (and, to a lesser extent, volume 4), and, when considered alongside Swann's jealosy for Odette's female lovers and other sapphic relationships, emerges as a significant exploration of lesbianism.

Why would a gay man fixate so intensely on a subject seemingly so removed from his own experience? Why would a vegetarian write volumes about a craving for steak? One common explanation is that Proust, living in a society less tolerant of male homosexuality, employed a kind of literary transposing, substituting lesbians for gay men. Albertine, after all, shares key characteristics with Proust's own well-documented romantic interest—simply remove the feminine suffix "-ine" and consider "Albert".

However, this explanation proves inadequate upon closer examination. Surprisingly, as Ladenson's book reveals, this simplistic transposition theory has been (and perhaps remains) the prevailing interpretation of lesbianism in "In Search of Lost Time." It's a remarkably superficial reading that ultimately fails to align with the novel's complexities.

Ladenson's book offers a far more compelling answer to the question of Proust's and the Narrator's fascination with lesbianism, but I won't spoil it here. The book is short, engaging, and well worth reading. Beyond the central hypothesis presented in the final chapter, Ladenson explores the historical depiction of lesbianism by male authors, the evolution of this theme in Proust's earlier works, its connection (and ultimately, misdirection) to Baudelaire's "Lesbos," and other fascinating related topics.

In just over 120 pages, "Proust's Lesbianism" provides a thought-provoking and, in my opinion, highly convincing interpretation of the complex web of bisexuality and lesbianism in "In Search of Lost Time." It's a valuable addition to the four thousand-page epic. I enjoyed it so much that I'm now eager to read Ladenson's "Dirt for Art's Sake."

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One for the fans, this, and I guess one has to be a hard core fan of Proust to either follow it or appreciate the depth of analysis. I love 'In Search of Lost Time' and have read it often enough (4 or 5 times) to follow all the analysis of the characters, both male and female, as they appear in the book. I've also read Painter's biography, and a few companions to the novel, and Madame de Sevigne's letters, so I came to this with the necessary background knowledge from the Proustian perspective. However, there is still much I didn't know, regarding Freud for example, so it was a learning experience in that sense.
What should be made clear is this isn't just about the lesbians in the book, indeed it could be questioned whether even Albertine is a lesbian. It is also about the males - Charlus, Jupien, Morel, and St Loup, who all engage in same-sex relationships. So we find Mlle Venteuil and her anonymous friend, Andree and Albertine, Bloch's sister, all coming under a deep scrutiny, and producing a fascinating read. Plus lots more.
Well worth it for the real fans, but if you don't know the book backwards, and love it, it would probably be quite a bore.

[Anina Calypso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, the perspective and writing is so good

[Lilly Brenneman · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of my hyper fixation topics!! cannot wait to dig my teeth into the two other proust pieces i plan to read. but for now i need a break!