Les plaisirs et les jours

by Marcel Proust

"Les plaisirs et les jours" by Marcel Proust is a collection of prose poems and short stories published in 1896. Proust's first published work features a preface by Anatole France and illustrations by Madeleine Lemaire. Drawing inspiration from decadent literature and the dandy Robert de Montesquiou, the collection includes tales of society life, tender stories, melancholic reflections, and portraits. The title echoes Hesiod's ancient work, transforming "Works and Days" into "Pleasures and Days," hinting at themes of desire, ambition, and fleeting beauty.