Valentin Louis Georges Eugène Marcel Proust, known as Marcel Proust, was a French novelist, literary critic, and essayist. He is best known for his monumental novel À la recherche du temps perdu (translated as Remembrance of Things Past or In Search of Lost Time), which was published in seven volumes between 1913 and 1927. Proust is considered one of the most influential authors of the 20th century.

Proust was born into an affluent and cultured family. His father was a renowned physician, and his mother was a well-educated Jewish woman. Despite his privileged upbringing, Proust suffered from fragile health, particularly asthma, which impacted him throughout his life.

In his youth, Proust frequented aristocratic salons, mingling with various literati and artists. This exposure, however, also earned him a reputation for being a snob, influencing figures like André Gide to reject his manuscripts initially.

Proust began his magnum opus, À la recherche du temps perdu, in 1907, starting with Swann's Way (Du côté de chez Swann), self-published in 1913. The second volume, In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower (À l'ombre des jeunes filles en fleur), won the prestigious Prix Goncourt in 1919.

Aside from this masterpiece, his works include Pleasures and Days, Jean Santeuil (an unfinished and posthumously published novel), and numerous letters and articles. Proust also translated works by John Ruskin into French.

Marcel Proust's writing is celebrated for its exploration of themes such as time, memory, art, passion, and human relationships. His unique style and introspective narratives have cemented his place as a literary giant.