First edition Modern Library hardcover of 'Swann's Way' by Marcel Proust

This is a 1928 Modern Library edition of Marcel Proust's 'Swann's Way,' the first volume of his monumental seven-volume novel 'In Search of Lost Time.' The Modern Library series, founded in 1917 by Albert Boni and Horace Liveright, aimed to make classic and contemporary literature accessible to American readers in affordable, well-designed editions. This particular edition represents an important early American publication of Proust's masterwork, translated by C.K. Scott Moncrieff. Collectors of early 20th-century literature and Proust enthusiasts value these early Modern Library editions for their historical significance and distinctive design. The red cloth binding with the characteristic label is emblematic of Modern Library's commitment to quality production during this era. Book collectors appreciate these editions as affordable entry points into collecting important literary works, while Proust scholars and readers seek them for their connection to the introduction of modernist literature to American audiences.