Within a Budding Grove, Volume 2

In this conclusion to this section of Proust’s classic, we get to understand what he means by ‘budding grove.’ As the summer on the beach winds down, the adolescent Proust is increasingly smitten by the young beauties his age he passes by but never gets to meet… until a well-known painter gives him that very chance. The romantic anticipation, the teasing sensations, the fantasized expectations mixed with the summer sun, the sea breeze… some things never change.