法國文豪普魯斯特的小說《追憶似水年華》，卷帙浩翰、風華絕代，是二十世紀文學史上的聖母峰。英倫才子狄波頓，在《擁抱似水年華》裡，以獨樹一格的生花妙筆，把普魯斯特從文學神殿拉到浮世人間，解說何以他能夠改變我們的人生。
普魯斯特相信生命的價值和精髓就是日常點點滴滴的總合。狄波頓明瞭其深意，從普魯斯特的著作、文章及信件汲取靈感，把這位文學大師的生命軌跡和經典作品做了巧妙的轉換，寫成這本結合文學傳記和生活實用手冊的作品。
本書風格突出，旁徵博引，不時令人拍案叫絕。它為我們的人生進補，指點我們如何珍惜時光，體認人生的真諦，學會調整人生的輕重緩急。
'What a marvellous book this is ...de Botton dissects what [Proust] had to say about friendship, reading, looking carefully, paying attention taking your time, being alive and adds his own delicious commentary. The result is an intoxicating as it is wise, amusing as well as stimulating, and presented in so fresh a fashion as to be unique ...I could not stop, and now much start all over again.' Brian Masters, Mail on Sunday 'De Botton not only has a complete understanding of Proust's life ...but what is particularly charming about this small, readable book is its tongue-in-cheek benignity, its lightly held erudition and its generous way of lending itself to what is not only the greatest book of the century but also the darkest and the most eccentric' Edmund White, Observer 'It contains more human interest and play of fancy than most fiction ...de Botton, in emphasizing Proust's healing, advisory aspects, does us the service of rereading him on our behalf, providing of that vast sacred lake a sweet and lucid distillation.' John Updike, New Yorker 'De Botton's little book is so charming, amusing and sensible that it may even itself change your life.' Allan Massie, Daily Telegraph 'This engaging book is one of the most entertaining pieces of literary criticism I have read in a long while.' Sunday Telegraph 'A very enjoyable book' Sebastian Faulks
★本書中譯版《擁抱似水年華：普魯斯特如何改變你的人生》由先覺出版。
作者簡介
Alain de Botton is the author of eight bestselling books including The Consolations of Philosophy, The Art of Travel and Essays in Love. He was born in 1969 and lives in London. For more information, consult: www.alaindebotton.com.
