Nabokov's Dozen
Thirteen Stories
(Author) Vladimir NabokovIn some of these stories shadowy people pass through, cooped up by life, mangled by it, with nowhere to escape to. Their dreams lie stifled, smothered by routine and repetition, and frustrations lurk in all the corners. In others, elusive glimpses of fleeting happiness, which flutter away before they can be snatched, waylay their victims. Like the shimmer of the sea, the gleam of a glass caught by the sun, they sparkle brilliantly only to dissolve again. Two of the stories, 'First Love' and 'Mademoiselle O', are autobiographical, and 'The Assistant Producer' is based on real events, but the rest are pure flights of fantasy - or the stuff that life is weaved of?
Vladimir Nabokov
Vladimir Nabokov was a Russian-American novelist and lepidopterist known for his intricate writing style and innovative narrative techniques. His most notable works include "Lolita," a controversial novel that explored taboo themes with lyrical prose, and "Pale Fire," a complex and metafictional masterpiece. Nabokov's writing often featured wordplay, allusions, and unreliable narrators, challenging readers to engage with his work on multiple levels. His contributions to literature include expanding the possibilities of fiction and redefining the boundaries of the novel. Nabokov's impact on the literary genre of modernist and postmodernist literature is profound, influencing writers such as Salman Rushdie and David Foster Wallace. "Lolita" remains his most famous and enduring work, cementing his legacy as one of the great literary innovators of the 20th century.