Marcel Proust, French writer, literary critic, and essayist, is best known for his major work, "In Search of Lost Time," published in seven volumes between 1913 and 1927. Born in Paris in 1871, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential authors of the 20th century. His prose explores involuntary memory, illustrated by the famous "episode of the madeleine," and his narratives capture the experiences of French high society in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although he initially financed the publication of his first volume, Proust left an indelible mark on world literature with his refined and introspective style. He died in 1922