Sodom and Gomorrah explores the complex themes of homosexual love, both male and female, and the destructive nature of sexual jealousy. Within its pages, Proust offers an unforgiving analysis of the decadent high society of Paris and the rise of a philistine bourgeoisie poised to supplant it.

Characters who had lesser roles in earlier volumes now reappear in a different light and take center stage, notably Albertine, with whom the narrator believes he is in love, and the insanely haughty Baron de Charlus.

This volume is a testament to Proust's ability to weave intricate narratives that delve deeply into the human psyche, making it a critical piece of his monumental series, À la recherche du temps perdu.