Proust, Roman Familial by Laure Murat (2023)

Laure Murat, a historian, essayist, and professor of literature in Los Angeles, has crafted a unique hybrid text that combines elements of a literary essay, tribute, and an intimate familial account. She, bearing the aristocratic title of “Princesse,” is the daughter of the Duchess of Luynes, hailing from the illustrious Ancien Régime family, and Prince Napoleon Murat, a descendant of Marshal Joachim and Caroline Bonaparte, sister of the Emperor. The story of her lineage forms an interesting backdrop, as it reveals the tension between two distinct forms of nobility: the traditional aristocracy and the more recent Empire nobility. The clash between these two noble lineages, one steeped in tradition and the other rooted in Napoleon’s legacy, has always been marked by snubbing and mockery, a theme reminiscent of Marcel Proust’s works, particularly the contempt for commoners.

Laure Murat emphasizes the rarity of her parents’ proclivity for reading, which defied the stereotype of their aristocratic milieu. This served as a valuable model for intellectual growth and emancipation. She recalls that reading Proust in her twenties was a revelation, as she discovered a fascinating porosity between fiction and reality, a theme she explores in her book. This porosity allows her to navigate between Proust’s work, her own genealogy, and the people associated with her family. Proust had frequented the Hotel Murat during her great-grandmother’s time, among other connections. This revelation opened her eyes to the vulgarity and manners prevalent in her aristocratic environment.

The book unfolds through various chapters where Laure Murat recounts her childhood memories while dissecting the inner workings of the aristocracy and the world of appearances. She shares edifying anecdotes, such as her first bus ride at the age of 20, accompanied by her father, who mistakenly treated it as a taxi. She also touches on her mother’s lack of affection, her grandmother’s aversion to effusive behavior, and the irony of her organizing a ball when her son died.