LUZHIN DEFENSE, THE

Nabokov'sthirdnovel,TheDefense,isachillingstoryofobsessionandmadness.Asayoungboy,Luzhinwasunattractive,distracted,withdrawn,sullen--anenigmatohisparentsandanobjectofridiculetohisclassmates.Hetakesupchessasarefugefromtheanxietyofhiseverydaylife.Histalentisprodigiousandherisestotherankofgrandmaster--butatacost:inLuzhin'sobsessivemind,thegameofchessgraduallysupplantstheworldofreality.Hisownworldfallsapartduringacrucialchampionshipmatch,whentheintricatedefensehehasdevisedwithersunderhisopponent'sunexpectedandunpredictabkelinesofassault.