Who is this Proust character??

I keep seeing this guy/girl's name pop up in blog sites everywhere. I think its supposed to be what Mr. and Ms. Pretentious read to further elevate themselves above the proles. Let's see what Dictionary.com says:

Proust ( P ) Pronunciation Key (proost), Marcel. 1871-1922.

French writer whose seven-part novel Remembrance of Things Past (1913-1927) is among the great works of modern literature.

Well, that's that. And to think I was mispronouncing it in my head all this time. Who'd a thunk it?