French writer. Author of the monumental novel 'A la recherche du temps perdu' (he hated the title 'Remembrance of Things Past' given to its English translation), which he began in 1913. The 'hero' (who is transparently the author) conjures up his past when the taste of a madeleine biscuit dipped in tea recalls his early childhood. Many thousands of pages follow as the author tries to reconcile (objective) reality and (subjective) memory - and examines the mechanics of the upper strata of French society. The last three volumes were published after his death (1923-27) . (bio by: David Conway)