Peder
Well-Known Member
Vladimir Nabokov, born somewhat over a hundred years ago, in 1899, has been called one of the most brilliant and respected literary figures of the twentieth century, and Lolita, his most famous novel, one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century. Nabokov's writing career, from his first poem written in Russian to his final novel published in the United States, spanned an amazing and very prolific 60 years during which it seems he must always have been writing (perhaps even when hunting butterflies on vacation). An abbreviated list of his works occupies two sides of a flyleaf in the front of his novels as they are published in the U.S. nowadays. It lists 41 items, including nineteen novels, several volumes of short stories, a screenplay and dramas, three series of lectures on literature, an autobiography and a well-named collection of his Strong Opinions -- ignoring all of the different versions and translations of his works into foreign languages. Lolita herself has sold over 50 million copies, a feat surpassed only by very few other works.
However, it is not his statistics that capture the reader, but rather his extraordinary writing style, his ever-present sense of humor, the intriguing complexity of his stories and the individually drawn human conditions in which all of his characters find themselves and struggle their ways to their respective destinies. In my opinion, to read Nabokov is to learn to love the humanity in people.
The simple goal here is to share our own personal reactions, openly and honestly, to what we have read, and to enjoy doing so.
The thread is open to everyone, whether or not you have read any of Nabokov or only heard of him, or perhaps want to learn something about him. Everyone is encouraged to come and share their thoughts and questions and be assured of a friendly reception and discussion.
So please come join us as we explore one of the larger playgrounds in all of literature. It is nearly impossible to imagine ever reading all of Nabokov's works, although I am sure many have done it. As a dream however, it may be possible to hope that, sometime in the distant future, each one of his works might have been at least surveyed by some member or other of this forum, until at last all have received some attention. If that glorious day ever arrives, then the thing to do will surely be to follow Nabokov's own admonition: Re-read!
As the lights go down and the curtain goes up, some of the conversations are already in progress from earlier Lolita and Enchanter threads.
So let's join the gathering and see what they are talking about. This looks like a friendly group, over here . . .
However, it is not his statistics that capture the reader, but rather his extraordinary writing style, his ever-present sense of humor, the intriguing complexity of his stories and the individually drawn human conditions in which all of his characters find themselves and struggle their ways to their respective destinies. In my opinion, to read Nabokov is to learn to love the humanity in people.
The simple goal here is to share our own personal reactions, openly and honestly, to what we have read, and to enjoy doing so.
The thread is open to everyone, whether or not you have read any of Nabokov or only heard of him, or perhaps want to learn something about him. Everyone is encouraged to come and share their thoughts and questions and be assured of a friendly reception and discussion.
So please come join us as we explore one of the larger playgrounds in all of literature. It is nearly impossible to imagine ever reading all of Nabokov's works, although I am sure many have done it. As a dream however, it may be possible to hope that, sometime in the distant future, each one of his works might have been at least surveyed by some member or other of this forum, until at last all have received some attention. If that glorious day ever arrives, then the thing to do will surely be to follow Nabokov's own admonition: Re-read!
As the lights go down and the curtain goes up, some of the conversations are already in progress from earlier Lolita and Enchanter threads.
So let's join the gathering and see what they are talking about. This looks like a friendly group, over here . . .
