The tragic fate of Marcel Proust’s Monegasque secretary

The writer Marcel Proust, author of one of the most significant works of world literature of the 20th century, the seven-volume epic “In Search of Lost Time” died almost 100 years ago. The young Monaco-born Alfred Agostinelli not only documented moments of the life of the famous French writer, but also his works. Their relationship, in fact, completely determined one of Proust’s future novels.

Agostinelli was born in Monaco on October 11, 1888. He first met Proust in summer 1907 in the French seaside resort of Cabourg in Normandy where the writer was a regular. Marcel Proust was then 36, while Alfred was only 18. This was not their only meeting, however. A few years later, in 1913, fate brought them together again.

Alfred had lost his job as a taxi driver in Monaco and turned to his old acquaintance Proust for help. At the time, the writer was living in Paris and had his own personal driver Odilon Albare for whom there were no grounds for dismissal. Marcel offered Alfred a post as his secretary. His duties mainly consisted of reprinting the writer’s manuscripts. In addition, Agostinelli and his girlfriend Anna were allowed to live in his apartment on Haussmann Boulevard. Alfred Agostinelli accepted these terms and joined Proust in Paris.

The Prisoner

According to Proust’s biographers, the work of secretary was more of a burden to the young Monegasque. His previous job of taxi driver involved constant movement and meeting new people. Now he was stuck with a typewriter for days in the writer’s apartment.

In addition, Proust showed a special predilection towards the young Monegasque. The relationship between the two men was complicated even further as Alfred’s girlfriend demonstrated a certain jealosy. Anna made scenes. And most importantly, Marcel followed his young secretary’s every step, obsessed about his slightest visit or acquaintance. That’s what the writer’s notes from 1909 and 1913 suggest. The notes were sold as part of a private collection at an auction in 2013. The French National Library, however, managed to redeem this precious document. Not easy to decipher, it describes the Parisian experience of a certain A on August 11, 12, 13 and 14, 1913. This must have been Proust’s way to record his unfruitful surveillance.

It was not easy on the writer either. He kept complaining to his friends about emotional distress and additional financial expenses. He even compared himself to “a ruined gambler in love.”

In his attempt to retain the Monegasque, Proust encouraged Agostinelli in his dream of flying a plane. In November 1913 he paid for his piloting course at the Blériot school, in the Parisian neigbourhood. The young man dropped out, however, at exam time.

Since the whole situation was unhealthy, Alfred and Anna eventually fled from Marcel Proust. In December 1913 they moved in with Alfred’s father in Monaco.

The Fugitive

Proust was not about to give up in his attempts to get the fugitives back. He even promised a small pension to Eugène Agostinelli if his son joined Proust back in Paris. But the decision was down to Alfred, and he was adamant.

His correspondence with Marcel Proust carried on, however. The writer kept buying him expensive gifts, an airplane among others. The Monegasque refused to accept it, while Proust refused to take it back. 

Swann’s Way

Back in Monaco, Alfred Agostinelli pursued his passion for piloting and enrolled in Garbero brothers school in Antibes. He gave himself the pseudonym Marcel Swann which suggests he was familiar with Proust’s “In Search of Lost Time”.

On May 30, 1914, he was piloting a plane on his own, Anna and other friends watching him from the ground. No one knew back then that the flight was to be fatal for the 25-year-old Alfred Agostinelli. Exhilarated by the open air and the delight of piloting, Alfred took a prohibited and dangerous turn, flying over the sea. Sadly, he failed to keep the plane up and crashed right in front of his stunned audience. The aircraft sank, whilst the drowning pilot was unsuccessfully calling for help. The rescue boats arrived too late. That was the end of Alfred Agostinelli. His body was only recovered a week later. Alfred found his last refuge in Nice.

Regained Alfred

Marcel Proust was crushed by the news… He couldn’t come to terms with the idea of his dear Alfred dead at the age of 25.

He later brings him back to life in his “In Search of Lost Time”. One of its main characters is a homosexual girl, Albertine Simone. Her story obviously echoes the fate of the Monegasque. The author is in love with the young girl who pushes him away. She is smart, daring and athletic. In the sixth part of Proust’s life opus, however, Albertine runs away. He does everything to get her back, turning to a friend for help … echoes of Marcel Proust who was chasing Alfred Agostinelli in Monaco, negotiating with his father. In the novel, the desperate lover is ready to buy Albertine a yacht. But just then, the girl tragically dies in a horse-riding accident.

That’s how Proust took revenge on Alfred, who did not reciprocate his feelings. Via the pen of the author, the story of Albertina Simone turns out to be rather scandalous, primarily because of her love affairs with women. Proust made his heroine homosexual though this feature had nothing to do with the real Alfred Agostinelli.