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211 pages, Unknown Binding
First published April 28, 1998
Quand ce qui est le plus cach茅 dans la Sonate de Vinteuil se d茅couvrit 脿 moi, d茅j脿 entra卯n茅 par l'habitude hors des prises de ma sensibilit茅, ce que j'avais distingu茅, pr茅f茅r茅 tout d'abord, commen莽ait 脿 m'茅chapper, 脿 me fuir. Pour n'avoir pu aimer qu'en des temps successifs tout ce que m'apportait cette sonate, je ne la poss茅dai jamais tout enti猫re: elle ressemblait 脿 la vie. Mais, moins d茅cevants que la vie, ces grands chefs-d'oeuvre ne commencent pas par nous donner ce qu'ils ont de meilleur.
Scott Moncrieff's translation:
When the least obvious beauties of Vinteuil's sonata were revealed to me, already, borne by the force of habit beyond the reach of my sensibility, those that I had first distinguished and preferred in it were beginning to escape, to avoid me. Since I was able only in successive moments to enjoy all the pleasures that this sonata gave me, I never possessed it in its entirety: it was like life itself. But, less disappointing than life is, great works of art do not begin by giving us all their best.