He wrote a few good books, but the majority of the other stuff he wrote seems to be just pure resentful spleen against authors who did quite a. It is set in germany and describes a love affair between a middleaged art critic albert albinus and a young girl, margot, for whom he eventually leaves his wife. The library of america edition of vladimir nabokovs novels includes the following three volumes. Vladimir nabokov april 22, 1899july 2, 1977 was a man of wonderfully opinionated insights on literature and life. Nabokov oftentimes took on with different forms of novel writing, so. Nabokovs dozen, notes from the editors, from the limited edition collection, the collected stories of the worlds greatest writers nabokov, vladimir published by. Vladimir nabokovs letters to vera, edited and translated. In the case of vladimir nabokov, however, the converse seems to obtain. Nabokov online journal is a multidisciplinary academic journal devoted to nabokov studies, published since 2007. Brian boyd is distinguished university professor in the department of english at the university of auckland, new zealand. Also available are excerpts from nabokov s readings at harvard, recorded in 1946, 1952, and 1964 many of nabokov s novels have been published by penguin uk in its penguin classics series.
See all books authored by vladimir nabokov, including lolita, and pale fire, and more on. But his erudite, inventive approach to writing buttressed by his formidable academic and cultural intellect made him a literary legend. A trilingual author, equally competent in russian, english, and french, nabokov wrote prodigiously during the course of his 78 years, producing a body of work that, when collected, was estimated to fill 40 volumes. Boyd, editor of letters to vera, chronicling the decadeslong love story between vladimir and vera, picks the 10 best nabokov books. Speak, memory speak, memory is the title of nabokov s autobiography which recollects his life from 1903 until 1940 and his journey to america.
Specifically, this volume includes girodias article laffaire lolita, an essay by nabokov, selections from lolita, and selected other essays, all of which are printed in french 1st edition. Vladimir nabokov happened to be a real russian author and later in his career he wrote prose in the english language. Nabokov s adolescence was also the period in which his first serious literary endeavors were made. He is the author of the prizewinning vladimir nabokov. One of these was the last journey his father ever took. Pale fire vladimir nabokovit is arguable, and debatable, whether this title or lolita is nabokovs masterpiece, but what is certain is that pale fire is once of the tightest, beststructured books of the 20th century. Lolita is certainly a favorite of mine, as are the other works mentioned here. Vera famously helped vladimir as first reader, editor, typist, secretary and agent. Pale fire vladimir nabokovit is arguable, and debatable, whether this title or lolita is nabokov s masterpiece, but what is certain is that pale fire is once of the tightest, beststructured books of the 20th century. Readers of vladimir nabokovs novels might be slightly uncomfortable with them, were they not so aweinspiring. The best books on vladimir nabokov recommended by maxim d shrayer.
Lolita 1955, nabokovs single most famous work, is one of the most controversial and widely read books of its time. Explore books by vladimir nabokov with our selection at. Collecting nabokovs lolita the new antiquarian the. Vladimir nabokov s letters to vera, edited and translated by olga voronina and myself, publishes on november 4 knopf. Vladimir nabokov, novels and memoirs 19411951 library of america, 1996 isbn 9781883011185 boyd, brian, ed. Nabokov s dozen, notes from the editors, from the limited edition collection, the collected stories of the worlds greatest writers nabokov, vladimir published by the franklin library, franklin center, pa 1977. Also available are excerpts from nabokovs readings at harvard, recorded in 1946, 1952, and 1964 many of nabokovs novels have been published by penguin uk in its penguin classics series. To call a story a true story is an insult to both art and.
He was also, it turns out, equally opinionated in his criteria for what constitutes a good reader. Nabokov wrote his first literary works in russian, but rose to international prominence as a master english prose stylist for the novels he. Specifically, this volume includes girodias article laffaire lolita, an essay by nabokov, selections from lolita, and selected other essays, all of which are printed in. Apr 04, 20 vladimir nabokov happened to be a real russian author and later in his career he wrote prose in the english language. Vladimir nabokov books list of books by author vladimir. The story of how the great russianamerican writer vladimir nabokov conceived and created his masterpiece lolita, told in his own. Says a revisionist biography of the writer is due, which comes to terms with the jewish influence on his work. The listen links are to sound files in the aiff format, varying in size from 30200k. Life and times of author, plus historical events throughout the course of his life. Association copy, inscribed by the author in russian on the front free endpaper with a drawing of a butterfly, in russian in the year of publication, to leon dinkin with congenial salutation vladimir nabokov sep. The marxist revolution makes a cameo appearance in the eye its russian title was closer to the spy as in nearly all of nabs books. Vladimir vladimirovich nabokov also known by the pen name vladimir sirin.
First edition of nabokovs criticism of the work of russian literary master nikolai gogol. The darkly comic transparent things, one of nabokovs final books, traces the bleak life of hugh person through murder, madness, prison and trips to switzerland. Laughter in the dark, originally published in russian in 1932, exemplifies nabokovs early writings and is the authors early take on the theme later explored in depth in lolita. Nabokov, however, seeks to disown any resemblance to his creation when, in the foreword to this revised edition of 1965, he writes of his infamous creation. In 1916, nabokov published his first book, stikhi poems, a collection of 68 russian poems. Vladimir nabokov marvels over different lolita book. Party kadets in russia and was the author of numerous books and. He considers this essential role of deception in storytelling, adding to famous writers wisdom on truth vs. There are some more works written by nabokov that i highly recommend. He wrote a few good books, but the majority of the other stuff he wrote seems to be just pure resentful spleen against authors who did quite a bit better than he did. Girodias published this pamphlet in order to garner support for his protest of the ban a lawsuit which he ultimately won. Nabokov was born on 22 april 1899 10 april 1899 old style, in saint petersburg, to a wealthy and prominent family of the russian nobility that traced its roots to the 14thcentury tatar prince nabok murza, who entered into the service of the tsars, and from whom the family name is derived 16 his father was the liberal lawyer, statesman, and journalist vladimir dmitrievich nabokov. I dont see why everyone cares so much about nabokov.
Vladimir nabokov on writing, reading, and the three. One of the major original prose writers of the twentieth century, vladimir nabokov is a stylist with extraordinary narrative and descriptive skill who possesses a linguistic inventiveness in. During the great, and still unsung, era of russian intellectual expatriationroughly between 1920 and 1940books written in russian by emigre russians and published by emigre firms abroad were eagerly bought or borrowed by emigre readers but were absolutely banned in soviet russiaas they still are, except in the case of a. Lolita that i absolutely adore, invitation to a beheading very interesting and written in kafkas style of writing dreamlike reality, the gift which i didnt liket too much and the original laura that is an incomplete manuscript but printed in nabokovs writing and hence a good. April 10 1899, saint petersburg july 2, 1977, montreux was a russianamerican author. Of the major edifices he erected in english, his last, ada, or ardor. Witty, sensuous and profound, nabokovs story of a middleaged college professors passion for a honeyskinned, pubescent girl is one of the most evocative depictions of. He is the author of the erast fandorin historical mystery series as well as the sister pelagia series.
Five classics by vladimir nabokov that demonstrate his. Boris akunin is the pen name of russian author grigory shalvovich chkhartishvili, who writes crime fiction and historical fiction novels. In this short excerpt from a tv program called usa. Jan 28, 2010 in the case of vladimir nabokov, however, the converse seems to obtain. The nabokovs were known for their high culture and commitment to public service, and the elder nabokov was an outspoken opponent of antisemitism and one of the leaders of the opposition party, the kadets.
The 8 best vladimir nabokov books peter galen massey. Vladimir nabokov books list of books by author vladimir nabokov. Vladimir nabokov books, ebooks, audiobooks, biography. In a brief dismissal of historical determinism, he writes. Boris was born in zestafoni, georgia, but has lived in moscow, russia ever. Nabokovs book titled lolita 1955 is his most famous, and this is that book by nabokov which sting famously alludes to. Vladimir nabokov was a russianborn american fiction writer, poet and entomologist. From the writer who shocked and delighted the world with his novels lolita, pale fire, and ada, or ardor, and so many others, comes a magnificent collection of stories. We have excerpted vladimir nabokovs quotes from his works, books, interviews and life. Petersburg, russia, to wealthy aristocratic family. The novel, vladimir nabokov comments on different foreign editions of his novel lolita.
Vladimir nabokov has 328 books on goodreads with 2305917 ratings. His first nine novels were in russian, but it was his publication of english prose that won him international acclaim. Vladimir nabokov on what makes a good reader brain pickings. A selection of criticism, arranged in chronological order of publication, devoted to the writings of vladimir nabokov. Vladimir vladimirovich nabokov was born on april 23, 1899, in st. Vladimir nabokov has 409 books on goodreads with 2303306 ratings. This is also the book that gave me perhaps my favorite quote as it opens with. A family chronicle 1969, is his most excessive, both in its difficulty and in the pleasures it affords the rereader. A family chronicle 1969, the longest of nabokovs novels, is a witty and parodic account of a m. Vladimir nabokov 22 april 1899 2 july 1977 vladimir vladimirovich nabokov russian.
The american years princeton 1991, and nabokovs ada. Oct 16, 2014 lolita 1955, nabokov s single most famous work, is one of the most controversial and widely read books of its time. The enthralling, anxious world of vladimir nabokovs. The irony, of course, is that hermann is nabokovs creation, and in as much as hermann is the fictional author of despair hermann is, in a sense, nabokov himself. Vladimir nabokov, novels 19551962 library of america, 1996 isbn 9781883011192. In 1919, following the bolshevik revolution, he took his family into. What is the best book by vladimir nabokov, aside from lolita. The letters cover a span from 1923, the year the couple met, to 1976, the year before nabokov died. This library of america volume is the third of three devoted to vladimir nabokov, and contains the evanescent works of his later years. The 10 best vladimir nabokov books publishers weekly. Written between the 1920s and 1950s, these sixtyfive taleseleven of which have been translated into english for the first timedisplay all the shades of nabokovs imagination. Vladimir nabokov, a russian emigre who began writing in english after his 40s, is considered one of the most brilliant writers of the 20th century. Nabokov was born on 22 april 1899 10 april 1899 old style, in saint petersburg, b to a wealthy and prominent family of minor nobility.
This is nabokovs first novel of his emigre period and it plants the seed for the them. Feb 16, 2011 from the writer who shocked and delighted the world with his novels lolita, pale fire, and ada, or ardor, and so many others, comes a magnificent collection of stories. The best books on vladimir nabokov a five books interview. Though i have never been a large fan of autobiographies i found speak, memory to be written in a manner that made it a pleasure to read. The russian years princeton 1990, vladimir nabokov. Vladimir nabokov, russianborn american novelist and critic, the. Bilingual author and translator with his pick of the five mustreads by and about nabokov. He was the eldest of five children of liberal lawyer, statesman, and journalist vladimir dmitrievich nabokov and his wife, elena ivanovna nee rukavishnikova.
Brian boyd is a distinguished professor in the department of english at the university of auckland, new zealand, and is the author of nabokovs pale fire. Witty, sensuous and profound, nabokov s story of a middleaged college professors passion for a honeyskinned, pubescent girl is one of the most evocative depictions of unrequited love in the language. Funny, satiric, poignant, filled with allusions to earlier american writers, it is the confession of a middleaged, sophisticated european emigres passionate obsession with a 12yearold american nymphet, and the story of their wanderings across a late 1940s america of. Here is a collection of vladimir nabokov quotes about love, life, poetry, writing, books, memory and much more. Youll immediately recognize the author in the young emigre main character. Novels and memoirs 19411951 710 pages the real life of sebastian knight bend sinister speak, memory. Books by vladimir nabokov author of lolita goodreads.
Vera famously helped vladimir as first reader, editor, typist, secretary and agent, although not, despite the rumors, as coauthor. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. The individual covers he discusses are listed here. Vladimir nabokov was born on april 23, 1899, in st. At the time he was attending tenishev school in saint petersburg, where his literature teacher vladimir vasilievich gippius had been critical of his literary accomplishments. Nabokov is mostly celebrated for his striking descriptions and experimental flair of writing with carefully integrated plots. The authors work usually comprised of fancy mixed in humour with literary allusions and offthewall happenings. One of the major original prose writers of the twentieth century, vladimir nabokov is a stylist with extraordinary narrative and descriptive skill who possesses a linguistic inventiveness in both russian and english. Vladimir nabokov is widely regarded as one of the finest prose stylists in the english language, and hes written many great books, such as the classic lolita and his autobiography, speak, memory. Son of elena ivanovna and vladimir dmitrievich nabokov. Nabokov 18991977 had a penchant for writing about the tragic and the taboo in his books, especially the stillcontroversial lolita. Written between the 1920s and 1950s, these sixtyfive taleseleven of which have been translated into english for the first timedisplay all the shades of nabokov s imagination. Vladimir nabokov rare books and memorabilia are collectible items relating to russian writer vladimir vladimirovich nabokov 18991977.