Crossword Genius

State that's barely conscious of Proust novel (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

stupor

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'state' is the definition.
(stupor is a kind of state)

'proust novel' is the wordplay.
'novel' indicates anagramming the letters.
'proust' is an anagram of 'STUPOR'.

'that's barely conscious of' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for stupor that I've seen before include "Almost unconscious condition caused by drink or drugs" , "Shock - Proust (anag)" , "State of dazedness or bemusement" , "Insensible state" , "numbness" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times (Crosaire) and the Irish Times.
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