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Proust’s overcoat is wrapped between sheets of tissue paper at the bottom of a large cardboard box on the top shelf of the museum’s storeroom.

LORENZA AND LERI WITH COAT.

Acknowledgments

I wish to thank warmly the great costume designer Piero Tosi, who introduced me to this wonderful story. I also thank Carlo Jansiti, who was very close to Jacques Guérin, for furnishing me with indispensable details for the reconstruction of this story. I equally wish to acknowledge Jean-Marc Léri, director of the Musée Carnavalet, who allowed me to see the overcoat of Proust several times; Silvio Levi, president of Calé Perfumes, who gave me the chance to understand Guérin’s professional activities better; Giuseppe Girimonti Greco, for his linguistic consultation; and Valeria Dani.

I offer a special thank-you to Andrea Carandini who, in friendship, but especially with the patience of an archaeologist, minutely ransacked this book and lavishly offered his precious advice.

Special praise to Portaparole, which originally published the book in Italian and in French.

Many thanks to Benedetta Craveri, the author of such unforgettable books about France. She has been so generous and encouraging to me.

I would also like to thank my agent, Ellen Levine; my publisher, Daniel Halpern; and my editor, Abigail Holstein, for their marvelous work.

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