Collected Stories

Amanathisdeskisinterruptedbytheappearanceofawoodlandelfinhisroom;thepianomaestroBachmannendshiscareer;abarbershavesthefaceofamanwhooncetorturedhim;and,ashydreamermakesadealwiththeDevil.Inthesesixty-fivestoriesofmagicandmelancholy,Nabokovdisplaysanastonishingrangeofinventiveness,withdazzlingsleightofhand,fantasticalfairytales,intellectualgamesandenchantingglimpsesintolivesofambiguityandloss.ThecollectiondisplaysNabokov'sastonishingrangeoftechnicalandformalinventiveness:thedazzlingsleightofhand,fancifulfairytales,ingeniouspuzzles,enchantingvignettesandhauntingmelancholicnarrativesfullofdisturbingambiguities.