Published 1995
Ranked #4 of the 100 greatest novels of the 20th Century by the Modern Library
I read this two years ago and chose it for my comparative English Literature (drawing parallels to James Baldwin's beautiful Giovanni's Room on the way in which shame is portrayed).
This daring and previously censored novel is a real toying with the reader’s own psychology. Through the use of a confessional first person narrative, Nabokov effectively manages to evoke sympathy towards a man who is essentially an incestuous paedophile. When we discover ourselves empathising with this devious character, we are disgusted. These personal discoveries not only emphasise the powerful way in which Nabokov writes, but also deeply trouble us as we see how easily these feelings can be induced; perhaps posing as a feasible explanation for e.g. Stockholm Syndrome. One of the most heartbreaking novels I have ever read; Nabokov leaves no space for any hope as all characters mentioned meet an extremely tragic end which left me haunted for months.
Two brilliant film adaptations have also been produced; my favourite being the colour version as it remains true to the book as well as Dominique Swain flawlessly encapsulating the character of Dolores Hayes' mischief, beauty and tragedy.5/5
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