This book supplies an innovative understanding of the difference between "art for art's sake" and its more general counterpart, "aestheticism." What sets this book apart from the many other books relating to Nabokov is that this astute book has a specific focus, aestheticism, that allows one to see LOLITA in a unique and acute way. The book also provides one of the first comparisons of the three different adaptations of LOLITA, i.e., Nabokov's screenplay, Kubrick's movie, and Lyne's movie.

That said, there were some things that let me down. The index, for example, could have done a better job, and in general, there weren't enough citations; but in terms of the analysis, the Nabokov scholar could do much, much worse.

This novel is misunderstood, both by the pedophile minority and the normophile majority, as glorifying sexual attraction to children. That it assuredly does not do. On the contrary, the protagonist undergoes an Epiphany and recognizes his mistakes. In the first half of the book, Humbert criticizes every adult he meets. For the second half, he discontinues this pattern.

Nabokov was decades ahead of the professional writers on the subject. He commits rationalizations which de Young commented on in 1982. He comments on "blurred boyish blondes in faded slacks" and his love-object's "beautiful boy-knees" and "blurred boyish blondes in faded slacks." In 1962, Fitch was the first professional writer to comment on pedophiles' preference for androgynous children.

Our hero also ascribes magical powers to himself and those like him. He thereby jumps the gun on "A Study of the Child Molester," which was published in 1984.

Most significantly, he shows the tendency of pedophiles to idealize their subjects. The first professional writers to comment on pedophiles idealizing children were McCormack & Selvaggio (1889) and Segal & Stermac (1990). Humbert opens his testimony with "Lolita, light of my life, fire of my lions" and finally regrets pursuing "the great resegray never-to-be-had."

Nabokov's accent (half english, half french, half russian) brings a fantastic, rhythmic power to this tape, in which the great man reads from his prose and verse (which he once defined as "concentrated prose"). Until you've heard an author read his own stuff, you don't really have a sense of what he had in mind, especially with verse, it being essentially an oral form. (at least the poetry I like.) Nabokov's neglected poems are among his best things, much better than his tedious early and late novels. Especially worthwhile is the author reading the same poem in Russian and in English -- both have the exact same cadences!

n.b. James Mason reading Lolita is even better than Nabokov's version. I suspect Nabokov had someone like him in mind when writing.

Though Nabokov's novels, like the luscious "Lolita" and the poetic "Pale Fire" are well-known and read, it's little known that he was also a playwright. This book collects some of his better dramas, all written when he was still a young man, and all written in his native Russian rather than the English that he mastered. One, blank verse masterpiece, is translated so poetically you won't know the difference. A great book to place next to his novels.

This is a great reading for anyone who loves Russian classics. It combines the unique Nabokov's style with the wonderful plot of Lewis Carroll's masterpiece. Don't expect to see the exact translation of Carroll's book, rather consider it as a "variation on the theme" of "Alice in Wonderland". Take a book, a cup of tea, spend the time with favourite and funny Carroll's heros in the magic country of Carroll-Nabokov.

This "portable edition" of Nabokov's work is actually a reprint of an earlier collection entitled "Nabokov's Congeries" first published in 1968. The compilation provides a superb introduction to one of the greatest literary minds ever. It begins with excerpts from the author's memoirs, and proceeds through eleven of his short stories, several essays, three self-contained excerpts from novels, and ten poems. It also includes a complete novel ("Pnin") which is a comic masterpiece. The introduction by Page Stegner is one of the best and most accessible overviews of Nabokov's career one could find. For those who do not yet know Nabokov's work, or those who know him only as the author of "Lolita" -- this is a perfect first step.

Jenkins writes a book that needed to be written for the longest time: an in-depth examination of the process by which Kubrick has created his various masterpieces. Save for his films made prior to "The Killing", Kubrick has only worked from adaptation. And he has chosen material that has stumped filmmakers, material that in some cases was considered unfilmable. An outstanding, well written, researched, and thought out book. Highly recommended for writers, students of film, and devotees of Kubrick.

The Defense by Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov is absolutely superb. It is all at once humorous, morosely serious, and fascinating. Of course, any book about an insane grandmaster has to be good. As a matter of fact, this book was so good that it was made into a movie, which was equally impressive. The best line out of the book, which I often shout out loud in public, is, "Your son is a cheat, just as you're a cheat. I'm surrounded by cheats!" My recommendation: read the book. It's a fantastic emotional roller coaster ride that leaves you out of breath! Oh, yes, and DON'T read the last line until you get there! It leaves your mouth agape and makes you go want to cry in your room for a few weeks.

Nabokov has crafted here a work so brilliant it deserves to be put side by side with all the classics of western literary tradition. He towers above the rest with a literary style that can only be described as breathtaking.

I will not bother to respond to the idea of Lolita as pornography or as a book of paedophilia. It is a topic not worthy of discussing.

The literary allusions in Lolita are so rich and subtle that a reader can reread Lolita dozens of times and still find fresh material to marvel at. Perhaps one of the most directly readable of the Modernist authors, Vladimir Nabokov combines here a dazzling virtuoso performance of literary meaning. Though no master of languages or literature yet, I caught the few simple allusions to Poe, and am tracking down the rest slowly. Lolita is truly a book of multiple meanings, a book that transfigures and transforms, remakes and enlightens in a way subtle and profound.

A glorious work of a maestro in his prime, Lolita ought to be required reading simply for the lush beauty of its prose.

"Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins, my sin, my soul, my Lolita." If there's such a thing as a "top ten" for 20th century lit, this book easily makes the cut. Appel's annotations are judicious and informative-- he's a wit in his own right, and his love for Nabokov (a former professor) is evident. This is the version to read-- Nabokov's genius and Appel's diligence meld nicely to enhance an already great work.

LOLITA is one of the greatest novels written in the English language...that much is indisputable, except by pc-evangelists who are quick to brand characters "heroes" and "villains." The relationship that develops between Humbert and Lolita is an odd one, nevermind their age differences. Their relationship is one of an S/M variety, as each character's pleasure and empowerment depend upon the other's sexual frustration and vulnerability. And arguments can be tossed both ways, as to which character tortures and preys upon the other.

But nevermind this barrage of psychoanalysis: read LOLITA for yourself and decide. After all, LOLITA is about much more than sex: it deals with post-war sensibilities, relations between America and Europe, censorship, etc. It's one of the most beautiful, wickedly funny novels of the 20th century. Nabokov details so much about American culture at this time--more so than in many other novels I've come across.

(Also, the annotations are a pleasure in themselves, especially if you're a literary buff who likes guessing the origins of character names and likes pondering the significance of particular cultural/literary allusions.)

...although if you want to argue that it's poetry, I can't stop you. It's hard to believe that English is Nabokov's third language. It's also probably impossible to read the first paragraph without having your curiosity piqued. Try it, if you haven't read it already. I'd go so far as to say it's maybe the best opening I've ever read in a book, besides the one from which I took my name.

People unfamiliar with the work will probably approach it with a certain amount of apprehension. It's really about as far from pornography as you can get, though. The author provides a witty and fairly enlightening essay addressing charges of obscenity as an epilogue. The only real problem I can find with this book is that the writing is a bit too floral in places. Even the keenest of literary minds will most likely falter a bit here.

For readability, Lolita loses one star. This, however, is part of what makes it beautiful: it is no way an ordinary book, one that you can read and be done with in a week. For those desiring a challenge, or a refreshingly original style, Nabokov comes highly recommended.

A brilliant book by what appears to be a brilliant author (this is the first book of Nabokov's I've read). The first thing you have to do is disregard everything you have heard about this being a vulgar, exploiting book. It is not. There is no pornography to be found here - unlike Dostoyevsky who describes the deeds of his villain in detail, Nabokov avoids the cleverly set trap that would surely have made this a much less appealing novel. What it is, and much more so than for example "Romeo and Juliet", is a love story. Granted, it is a story about forbidden love; a middle-aged man desperately in love with a young girl, but it is still a love story.

Let me return once more to Dostoyevsky. I found myself comparing Humbert Humbert to Dostoyevsky's Raskolnikov in "Crime and Punishment" - a person torn apart by his own conscience, trying to hang on to his sanity by telling himself that he is doing the right thing. And just like Dostoyevsky, Nabokov takes us inside the mind of a criminal, as if he is trying to makle us understand him. And the greatness of Nabokov lies in the fact that he pulls it off. Even though you don't like Humbert - and you most certainly will not - you can begin to understand the reasons behind his behavior. Perhaps this - and the beautiful prose, of course - is the true greatness of Vladimir Nabokov.

Nabokov's genius is even more bewildering when you consider that English is not his first (nor even his second, I think), language and that he moved to America well into his adulthood. This is the only thing by Nabokov I have ever read (but will not be the last unless I die suddenly in the next few days) and his prose is extraordinary. It's direct, biting, and yet as lyrical as poetry. This is a book that can be read many times without loss of richness.

The content of this book is notorious. It is also very touching. It's a perfect tragedy. Now then. Lolita is far from being a sugary sweet angel. She has had sex before, she is manipulative, self-contained, seductive, crass...but so clearly through the voice of Humbert (the older man) you can see how young she is, how horribly abused, and how he is slowly destroying her.

Why would anybody ever want to read such a thing? For two reasons (in my opinion). Firstly, as I mentioned above, because Nabokov is a great artist. Very few books I have read come close to his craftsmanship in terms of stringing words together.

Secondly because abuse happens. People will gain control over others and then not act in their best interests. It happens, it can be horrible, and so it makes sense to examine it as part of the human condition. On the cover of this paperback edition, Vanity Fair claims it is "the greatest love story of all time", which seems a little weird, given that this "love" is completely one-sided and involves assaulting, trapping, manipulating and destroying a young girl.

But don't get the wrong impression. The content is dark, but the mood of the book is surprisingly light; and there are distinct passages and descriptions that are downright beautiful.

There are a lot of books around, but very few of this quality. Really. Read it.