Fourth Grade
Worksheets
Marcel Proust
Have you ever had a smell bring memories back to you? The smell of sweet, home-baked cookies might remind you of your grandma. The smell of fresh-cut grass might remind you of the first day of summer vacation. One 19th-century French author used this idea in a famous novel. Marcel's Proust's main character remembered his childhood in greater detail when he dipped tasty little cakes into hot tea!
Marcel Proust was born on July 10, 1871, in Auteuil, France. His father was a prominent doctor who wrote many books and articles. His mother was intelligent and also loved books. She came from a rich Jewish family, and the money helped Proust later in his writing career. When he was young, Proust had a serious asthma attack, which gave his family the idea that he was not strong. Unfortunately, they were right: he had chronic asthma for the rest of his life.
Proust may not have had much physical strength, but his mind was sharp. His writing ability became evident when he was in high school. He published a collection of essays, poems, and short stories in 1896. This book did not sell well, so Proust tried to write a novel. Poor Marcel! The writing of the novel did not go well either, so he gave up on it. He then decided to translate the works of the English art historian John Ruskin. He wrote many articles about Ruskin over the next several years. His mother helped him with the translations because she understood the finer points of the English language.
