One of France's greatest writers, Marcel Proust understood the evocative power of taste as well as words and his best-known work Remembrance of Things Past, scattered with references to food and cooking, was born of memories which spring to life when the author samples a petite madeleine. This book guides the reader, in Proust's own words, through the tastes of childhood, soirees with the Swanns and Madame Verdurin in Paris, the military scene, and high society. There are delicious recipes for entrees, fish and meat dishes and game, and desserts. Contemporary paintings and photographs, colour photographs of the recipes and location photographs of the places mentioned in the book, all evoke the magic and mystique of Proust's world.