Proust Seminar with Dr. Mark Calkins (Spring 2025)

Marcel Proust's In Search of Lost Time (also known in English as Remembrance of Things Past) is a monumental, seven-volume novel that Edmund White called, "the most respected novel of the twentieth century." Retired SFSU Lecturer in Humanities, Comparative & World Literature Dr. Mark Calkins has led the Proust Seminar at Mechanics' Institute since 2001. In February 2025, the Seminar's 2023-25 cohort will begin to read volumes five and six ( and ). Dr. Calkins will be using the Penguin Deluxe Classics Edition, although any translation is just fine.

The Proust Seminar will be held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month from 5:30-6:30 pm in the 4th Floor Board Room at Mechanics' Institute. The Spring 2025 Semester will begin on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, and continue for five months until June 18, 2025. Please note the seminar dates below:

• February 5
• February 19
• March 5
• March 19
• April 2
• April 16
• May 7
• May 21
• June 4
• June 18

In advance of the Proust Seminar's first meeting on February 5, 2025, please read pp. 1-67 of (Penguin Deluxe Classics Edition).

Mechanics' Institute offers both member and non-member registration options for the Proust Seminar. To join as a member to access the member pricing for this seminar, please join here.

For questions about registration, contact [email protected] or 415-393-0103.

For questions about curriculum please contact Dr. Calkins at [email protected].

Cancellation policy:

For each seminar, we reserve the right to cancel at any time and issue a full refund. If you are unable to attend the seminar, please email [email protected] or call 415-393-0103 by Wednesday, January 29, 2025, to receive a full refund less any non-refundable ticketing fees which may be applicable. All fees must be paid at the time of registration. After Wednesday, January 29, 2025 no refunds will be issued.

Host or Publisher Mechanics' Institute