Dating the events in Swann's Way

By cougarplain

I’m not sure if anyone else has tried to line up the dates in Swann’s Way, but I’ve been digging into it a bit and I think there are a few clues. In “Combray” they name a few actors—Bernhardt, Bartet, Brohan, and Samary—and the only overlap I can find for when they were all active is 1874 to 1886. Then “Swann in Love” looks like it’s during Grevy’s presidency (1879 to 1888). And Odette is said to be in Nice during the early part of MacMahon’s presidency, so 1875 to 1879. There’s also something about the Verdurins coming back to Paris during a revolution. I’m guessing that means the Commune in 1871. At the start, when Swann visits Marcel’s place, it even mentions the idea he might have a letter from the Comte de Paris—he was in exile at Twickenham, from 1886 until his death in 1894. That would put it about ten years into Swann’s marriage, I think. One thing I can’t quite pin down: how old is the narrator at the beginning of the second book, when he’s talking about “now” being 1913? Anyway, just some thoughts.