Lolita (Everyman's Library (Cloth))
 

Lolita

by Vladimir Nabokov

(Book Jacket Status: Jacketed)

When it was published in 1955, Lolita immediately became a cause célèbre because of the freedom and sophistication with which it handled the unusual erotic predilections of its protagonist. But Vladimir Nabokov's wise, ironic, elegant masterpiece owes its stature as one of the twentieth century's novels of record not to the controversy its material... (read more)

Top tags: fictionclassicliteraturerussianclassics (all tags)

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Other Reviews

Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

5 of 5 members found this review helpful.
treal
  • Rated 4 stars

Many critics have called Lolita a tragicomic, although ‘horror satire’ might equally be apt of a descriptor. The novel’s narrator, Humbert Humbert, remains a memorable literary villain drawn from the literary gene pool of Iago or Roger Chillingworth. And like the above villains, Humbert takes pride in manipulating individuals’ struck by tragedy (in this case Dolores Haze or, as Humbert christened her, Lolita). What’s striking about this novel is the villain acts as the narrator, and the...

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Didn’t Like It

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
Stewart P
  • Rated 2 stars

I can accept the excitement and critical curiosity surrounding this novel. For its time it was a ground-breaking story and walked the line of acceptable literature. In my personal opinion, however, I found simply a story about a pervert and his Lolita. I think the critical assumptions of metaphor are nothing more than grasps at defending a lewd piece of fiction. But hey, whatever floats your boat...

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Community:
  • Rated 4.161831 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 4.4 stars
 

Newest Comments

  • Andreea S

    andreea s said:

    Somewhat disturbing subject but it was written in such a great way that you can actually sympathize with the narator. I really liked the style, all in all a good book!

    posted Thursday, July 10 2008
  • Gaurav S

    gaurav s said:

    shud i read it?

    posted Sunday, June 22 2008 ( | view 2 replies )
  • Gaurav S

    gaurav s said:

    What type of book is this?

    posted Sunday, June 22 2008
  • Selina C

    selina c said:

    Another great Russian writer. Even though this book is American..it has that Russian sensibility.

    BTW Lolita reminds me of 'A short History of Tractors in Ukrainian' of the east-european papa who marries a women half his age... now I can't help but think..what is it about these 'dirty old men' from east-europe. In Atwoods Cat's Eye, the narrators lover who is 15 years her senior is from Hungary..are they all 'Humberts'? And how did they get to be that way? That's what I want to know.

    posted Sunday, June 22 2008
  • Eileen Y

    eileen y said:

    My friend told me about this book. Sounds interesting. Planning to read it, hopefully, soon.

    posted Saturday, June 21 2008
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