Nabokov

Lolita(1955),Nabokov'ssinglemostfamouswork,isoneofthemostcontroversialandwidelyreadbooksofitstime.Funny,satiric,poignant,filledwithallusionstoearlierAmericanwriters,itisthe"confession"ofamiddle-aged,sophisticatedEuropeanemigre'spassionateobsessionwitha12-year-oldAmerican"nymphet,"andthestoryoftheirwanderingsacrossalate1940sAmericaofhighwaysandmotels.Pnin(1957)isacomicmasterpieceaboutagentlebaldRussianemigreprofessorinanAmericancollegetownwhoisneverquiteabletomasteritslanguage,itspolitics,oritstrainschedule.PaleFire(1962)isatourdeforceintheformofanostensiblyautobiographicalpoembyarecentlydeceasedAmericanpoetandacriticalcommentarybyanacademicwhoissomethingotherthanwhatheseems.ThetextsofthisvolumeincorporateNabokov'spenciledcorrectionsinhisowncopiesofhisworksandcorrectlong-standingerrors.TheyarethemostauthoritativeversionsavailableandhavebeenpreparedwiththeassistanceofDmitriNabokov,thenovelist'sson,andBrianBoyd,Nabokov'saward-winningbiographer,whohasalsocontributednotesandadetailedchronologyoftheauthor'slifebasedonnewresearch.